We provide each bedroom with their own keyed knob in addition to a shared key for the front/back common door to the full unit.We do this strategy all the time and get way more than most managers in our town.

From your profile description it sounds like we have a lot in common from a property type standpoint.

Im not saying it doesnt happen but Its not common practice to use a directional boring machine on a gravity sewer.

I think that's common though, even with local people.

Is that common?

However, buying $35K rental properties in cities like Buffalo or Dayton or Scranton or Barstow is fraught with potential pitfalls.

Rehabbing properties can be expensive and full of pitfalls.

@Joe Gore it is common to have a due dillegence period after the contract is written on commercial deals.

Just set the values as customary, the best argument is the % of sale price in it's as is condition, then adding improvements made to the building side as described.Now, had we considered Pat's suggestion prior to the purchase, may be something could have been done that better suited the situation, but not with related members are probably not with a few residential units as that isn't common.

See also "The 150+ Most Common Repairs You'll Encounter" in the best source I know of at http://get.biggerpockets.com/flippingbook/ (and the free companion book The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs)