Personally installed tankless water heater, water softener and high efficiency HVAC system.

Spent too much time and money on one project, could have been dramatically more efficient.

You can find those by looking on the GIS as well.Least efficient is driving around and looking up vacant parcels but it does work.

As far as best practices, I think the easiest and most efficient first step is to just start shopping around the different providers and properties and the more of them you see, the more you'll be able to start picking out who jumps out at you as far as the better companies and opportunities.

De-levering generally means you should consider more and more that the asset should be sold and the capital should be placed elsewhere where it is used more efficiently.  

How do you figure out what specific parts of the home need to be rehabbed to efficiently get the most value increase out of the home?

We are updating the windows to replacement windows which will already help the building's efficiency.

Trying to find something quick and efficient in terms of record keeping and being ready for tax time.  

I'm getting my degree in portfolio management and work as business efficiency and strategy consultant, but I have no hands-on experience in real estate. 

Please provide some clarity and I will research and study, study and research and best of all ACT in a time efficient manner.