The gutters need to be repaired or replaced too, and the trim needs fresh paint.

As for my family, our houses are Not in great areas, but they're in super-nice condition, fresh & well-done paint jobs, shiny floors, simple & attractive landscape (which reminds me it's time to get busy digging in the dirt😉)  & totally cleaned up property/exterior (roofs, ext. walls, driveways, etc...) + shiny tubs, sinks & faucts, crystal clear windows,  a few trendy updates to deco & fixtures, super clean & pest free/quarterly-controlled "pleasant homes" not "just houses" (quarterly pest control is also when we do our quarterly inspections inside & outside our properties = for our protection of our property & address any issues more quickly )  + we truly care about our tenants and their comfort and safety and we really care about the upkeep of our properties (quick & attentive)  = that's all some purty good incentive right there, ain't it?

I'm always a fan of fresh paint inside and out and nice landscaping. 

I just discovered this site and think I may be able to uncover some assistance.

What do you think about offering garden space and/or selling fresh produce to tenants as a value add?

One that sat on the market the longest was freshly redone and empty.

Everyones watching HGTV and they want the granite countertops, fresh hardwood, crown molding etc.Now if you were looking to buy and hold, being all in 75k or less is very doable as you can do so in less desirable neighborhoods. 

Deals are out there, you just have to uncover them. 

It's a great hustle and you can really uncover some gem deals other investors miss.

If knob and tube, need to do soundproofing or if exterior walls need insulation, I'd go remove all down to the studs and start fresh.