I own a 4 unit in Carmel (just outside of Indy) that was built in 1900 - although it was completely redone to the studs and modernized about 20 years ago, due to the year built age, it was a little tough to insure.

There are three types of funding, all 3 defined on how you pay for them, and how you use/spend them...thus what the cost of each are.1 - Cash:  No cost, one use...but if your plan is correctly laid out, you should have an infinite number of uses of your cash.2 - Leverage/Debt:  Cost to you, but you get only one use per cost.3 - Cash-like substance:  This combines #1 and #2. 

One thing you might not realize: I don't know about modern models, but the old Wagners were very loud -- much louder than sprayers that use a separate compressor. 

Power washed and painted exterior, removed trees, new windows, painted front door, updated garage door and back door, added door entry from garage into house, new paint throughout the house, renovated 2 bathrooms (one of these bathrooms was a 1/2 bath that we converted into a full bath by combining the adjoining closet and rerouting the plumbing), added a kitchenette/kitchen in the basement.

Peak in KC has a 30 year non recourse product with 40 to 50% down.. primarily aimed at foreign investors rates 8 to 10% with usually about 10 points.. or 4 to 5k and no junk fees as we know every lender needs to make 4 to 5k a file in either origination fee's or junk fees and a combination of all of those .. borrowers many times get focused on points then end up with 3k of junk fee's on the HUD and then like to say hey I got 1 point  LOL  you simply cant stay in business as a lender if your not making at least 4 to 5k a file.. you will go broke. 

My thoughts would be to combine the traditional business of storage or mixed use storage and business or traditional storage with creating a delivery service similar to Clutter (less advanced of course). 

She would like to combine these and roll it over into something self-directed so that it can be invested in RE.

Moving forward, unless it's an emergency, try to combine most maintenance items into several days and send or post a blanket notice stating "building/yard maintenance to be done 5/2 - 5/5; will post 24-hr notice on door if access to specific unit is required"  I have single family detached, so others might have a better answer, but I plan maintenance and send notice to the 3 that are in the same area about a week or more in advance, letting them know I will also inspect their unit on 1st day of that time period, and they can request items inside their unit or leave a list and we will try to take care of it while there. 

As far as which route to take, there isn't necessarily a right or wrong way, it's just a combination of what you are capable of, what you can finance, and what is available in your market.

but again untested, no historic performance data, the low hanging fruit is being picked off by syndicators then combining assets into opportunity funds so what kind of performance will come from that is unknown.