After some research, I've come up with the following:- Blown-in insulation to fill the joists with hard-packed cellulose- Add asphalt panel board layer across the entire ceiling to the existing drywall and fill the cutouts. - Add a second layer of 5/8's drywall to the asphalt board. 

Purchase price: $179,000 Cash invested: $15,000 Lived in the property for 1 year.Knocked down living room wall, replaced Hvac, floors and gutted and remodeled the kitchen, attic insulation, converted the living room and the dining area into rooms.

You are correct that insulation is almost certainly a bigger bang for the buck in a heating climate.

. - New windows, AC ducts, attic insulation, gutters, appliances, fans & lighting, paint, and tile.

(Tunnel holes in insulation and droppings).

Typically these need now to be in a rated shaft and just not insulated. 

Quote from @JD Martin: I can't speak to rates - I think eventually they come down out of sheer necessity - but as far as the economy we must be living in an insulated bubble up here in Northeast Tennessee; no one has bothered telling us the economy is bad.

Client Name: Property Adddress: Current Property Type: Post Rehab Property Type: Level of Finishes: List Structural Changes: Final Bed/Bath Count: Exit Strategy (sell or refinance): PHASE 1: PRE-CONSTRUCTION Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Drawings $ - $ - $ - Permits $ - $ - $ - Expeditor $ - $ - $ - Alarm/Security $ - $ - $ - Temporary Fencing $ - $ - $ - Portable Toilets $ - $ - $ - Engineering Fees $ - $ - $ - Architectural Fees $ - $ - $ - Utilities $ - $ - $ - TOTAL PRE-CONSTRUCTION $ - $ - $ - PHASE 2: DEMOLITION Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Interior Demo Exterior Demo Dumpsters TOTAL DEMOLITION $ - $ - $ - PHASE 3: CORE AND SHELL Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Excavation $ - $ - $ - Foundation $ - $ - $ - Underground Plumbing $ - $ - $ - Drain Tile $ - $ - $ - Sump Pump $ - $ - $ - Steel $ - $ - $ - Floor Joists $ - $ - $ - Subfloor $ - $ - $ - Rough Carpentry $ - $ - $ - Interior Stairs $ - $ - $ - Dormer $ - $ - $ - Roof Masonry Siding Windows Exterior Paint Soffit/Fascia Gutters Landscaping Walkways Exterior Doors $ - $ - $ - Exterior Stairs $ - $ - $ - Porch $ - $ - $ - Deck $ - $ - $ - Driveway $ - $ - $ - Garage TOTAL CORE AND SHELL $ - $ - $ - PHASE 4: HVAC Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description HVAC Rough Furnace Condensing Unit & Lineset $ - $ - $ - HVAC Trim $ - $ - $ - TOTAL HVAC $ - $ - $ - PHASE 5: ELECTRICAL Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Electrical Rough $ - $ - $ - Electrical Finish & Fixtures Low Voltage TOTAL ELECTRICAL $ - $ - $ - PHASE 6: PLUMBING Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Water Service Upgrade $ - $ - $ - Sewer $ - $ - $ - Plumbing Rough $ - $ - $ - Water Heater $ - $ - $ - Plumbing Trim & Fixtures $ - $ - $ - TOTAL PLUMBING $ - $ - $ - PHASE 7: DRYWALL AND DOORS Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Insulation $ - $ - $ - Drywall, Tape, Sand $ - $ - $ - Finish Carpentry (Trim) $ - $ - $ - Interior Doors $ - $ - $ - Interior Paint $ - $ - $ - TOTAL DRYWALL $ - $ - $ - PHASE 8: FLOORS Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Hardwood Floors $ - $ - $ - Tile Vinyl Carpet $ - $ - $ - TOTAL FLOORS $ - $ - $ - PHASE 9: KITCHEN Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Cabinets Countertops Backsplash Plumbing Fixtures $ - $ - $ - Light Fixtures Appliances TOTAL KITCHEN $ - $ - $ - PHASE 10: BATHROOMS Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description BATHROOM # 1 Tub $ - $ - $ - Shower Tile Vanity Countertop Plumbing Trim & Fixtures Light Fixtures Glass & Mirrors $ - $ - $ - Bath Accessories $ - $ - $ - TOTAL BATHROOM # 1 $ - $ - $ - BATHROOM # 2 Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Tub $ - $ - $ - Shower Tile Vanity Countertop Plumbing Trim & Fixtures Light Fixtures $ - $ - $ - Glass & Mirrors $ - $ - $ - Bath Accessories $ - $ - $ - TOTAL BATHROOM # 2 $ - $ - $ - BATHROOM # 3 - Basement Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Tub $ - $ - $ - Shower $ - $ - $ - Tile $ - $ - $ - Vanity $ - $ - $ - Countertop $ - $ - $ - Plumbing Trim & Fixtures $ - $ - $ - Light Fixtures $ - $ - $ - Glass & Mirrors $ - $ - $ - Bath Accessories $ - $ - $ - TOTAL BATHROOM # 3 $ - $ - $ - **Please add itemization of work for additional kitchens or bathrooms** PHASE 11: OPTIONAL Original Amount Net Adjustments Adjusted Total Description Other $ - $ - $ - Fireplace $ - $ - $ - Final Cleaning Staging Stucco Closets General Contractor Fee $ - $ - $ - Finish Carpentry $ - $ - $ - Underpinning $ - $ - $ - Footers $ - $ - $ - Contingency $ - $ - $ - TOTAL OPTIONAL $ - $ - $ - Total Estimated Cost of Repairs $ - $ - $ -

I am not currently using a property manager, so any other extra insulating layer that I can get is useful to me.  

It seems to be missing the wood flooring at the moment, but did get the insulation wet and there was a puddle of water under the pipe.