Knock on wood its going fast and well.

First purchases are tough as it is, and to do it sight unseen is a huge risk.

Same 70s carpet, kitchen, wood paneling throughout, and an unfinished basement that already has roughed in plumbing for an additional bathroom, never been painted since he owned it, a hilly gravel driveway that only 4 wheel drive vehicles can safely navigate to get out, unless it is re-graveled every year because of erosion.  

We have joined some groups in Boston, and have been trying to attend meetings where we can as well as reading everything in sight.

Now we have 20 in that town alone, and several of those have been purchased sight unseen. 

I won't even attempt to lock it up at a higher price sight unseen, which lead me to wonder what wholesalers/investors do in this situation with an out of state owner.All advice and personal stories welcome!

To solve that dramatic deficit, I picked up the Evelyn Wood Reading Program from Nightingale-Conant which I noticed is not there any longer, but they do offer another speed reading program which I'm sure is just as good and that you can find here.

SFH are through the roof in my neck of the woods.

Wood steps are definitely an option I am considering. 

anything in particular you'd do differently with your near term hind sight?