Any capital improvements on a not owned yet property would involve a complex 1031 you’d want someone like @Dave Foster involved in. 

Sure, I could look for a higher paying job, but I was wondering if anyone has any creative short-term methods to improve my ratio.

Most building codes and HUD standards require bedrooms to have windows for egress and ventilation.

I would finish 4/6 rooms down there with proper egress and optional ventilation.

These problems often occur in vacant homes due to lack of ventilation, climate control, and regular inspections.

It's a great way to showcase the improvements made and helps appraisers not miss stuff.

If you walk into a bathroom and see peeling paint on the ceiling, you know that room was not ventilated while showers were taken.Wire exhaust fans to the same switch as the light so that the fan has to be turned on.

When it comes to real estate, here's a general list of eligible assets and their depreciable lifespans that you should know: Residential Rental Property = 27.5 yearsThis includes any building or structure where 80% or more of its gross rental income is from residential units.That means:- Apartment buildings- Single-family rental homes- Duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes- Mobile homes (used for residential rental)- Any kind of residential lodging facility where the primary purpose is long-term rentalCommercial Property = 39 yearsThis includes non-residential properties like:-Office buildings-Retail stores and shopping centers-Warehouses-Industrial complexes-Hotels and motels that do not qualify as residential rental propertyLand Improvements = 15 yearsThese include sidewalks, roads, fencing, some landscaping, and parking lots that are separate from the building.Personal Property = 5 or 7 yearsPersonal property used in a rental activity usually has a 5 or 7-year life.This includes most furniture, appliances, carpeting and various machinery.Qualified Improvement Property (QIP) = 15 yearsGenerally, this includes any improvements made to the interior of a non-residential building after the building was placed in service, excluding elevators, enlargements, and the internal structural framework.Computers and Related Peripheral Equipment = 5 yearsVehicles = 5 yearsNote that the land itself is not depreciable.

I'm a pretty handy guy but this would be outside of my realm, but my experience helps me understand how much this type of improvement should cost.Improvements: remodel kitchen and bathroom, paint interior, fix exterior scafolding.How should I go about finding a contractor?

This is due to bonus depreciation which allows taxpayers to deduct 40% of qualifying property costs in the first year, in addition to regular depreciation for new construction and improvement.