[imagine2frolic]

smeredith,

When I bought my home it was exactly as you describe. For under $5k I farmed out all the work except the yard. There I took high spots, and tranfered them to low spots. Trimmed all bushes, and trees WAY BACK. Nurtured the weeds over the summer to become a lawn.

Every inch of painted surface was repainted inside, and out. New carpet throughout the house, except for the dining room, and living room. Those are laminated floors. I bought a pressure washer, and cleaned all cement including the garage. It took me 2 days to clean the stove, and reassemble it. Before I moved in the neighborhood called it the crack house.

The day I signed on the house I made $70k with a lot of elbow grease, and the $5k farmed out. Even with the prices falling I am still up yet another $30k+. All for month's worth of work.

It was the first house I looked at. After 10 days of searching I went back to it, and shrugged my shoulders, and got to work. I didn't want another project. I was constantly working on Imagine, my boat. How much do you earn a month figured in against what you can gain. It might be worth running the numbers again? Good luck in your search.