That is the same floor plan.Swanny

I work on my own schedule and don't have mandatory meetings or floor time that I must comply with.

There's also a floor and a ceiling in any given town, neighborhood, subdivision that can skew those figures -i.e., you might be able to sell a 500 sf shack in a hot area for $500/sf but the average comps in that neighborhood for 1000 sf might be $350/sf.

The longer you can keep tenants, the more money you make because you don't have to worry about vacancy and prepping for rent (new paint, new flooring, things that you may not be able to take out of the deposit). 

I saw a local home stripped of all appliances, cabinets, flooring, doors, plumbing fixtures, etc.

something out of the 80s that's got good bones with more modern construction materials that you can replace flooring, paint, trim, windows, etc and do it as you have time for.If you answered "yes" or "potentially, yes" to #1, I suggest networking with other investors and learning what landlord life is like and if it makes sense for you in the short-term with the eventual goal of hiring property management later on. 

Hopefully there is someone out there you can recommend who is knowledgeable and experienced but still has the time to work with a newbie like myself.This duplex seems to need a new kitchen, paint, and maybe some new flooring, but who knows what the inspection will turn up.

Currently house hacking the 2nd floor of our split home to a traveler nurse.

Quote from @Bonnie Griffin Kaake: In addition, I have made sure the floors are pet "proof" How in the world do you 'pet proof' a floor?

It sounds like the floor in the laundry/maintenance room, kitchen, bathroom and closet with be removed, for sure drywall on 2 walls in maintenance room, most likely 1 wall of cabinets and possibly the other half of kitchen cabinets (lower) and then some carpet will need to be pulled up to help dry out.