While I am living in one side I am doing some renovation projects on the side I occupy: complete bathroom remodel, new tile floor (kitchen), new trim throughout unit, and painting/resurfacing kitchen cabinets. 

I also noted different marketing strategies so for example, if a property is listed as 'needs a straight forward update,' that means you need a solid contractor who is willing to go through every corner of the house to fix the paint, replace rotten baseboards, scrub tubs, resurface cabinets and etc.

Cash invested: $22,000 Full remodel.3 bedrooms, 2 bath, living room, and kitchen.Remodel included: flooring, removal of popcorn ceilings, retexture of walls, interior painting, new trim, leveling subflooring, new fixtures, tub and tile resurfacing, countertop resurfacing.

The holder of the current tax certificate is open to hearing my offer however, by due diligence, I'm curious if anyone's experienced a situation where, after the new unwarranted tax deed from the county is awarded, the previous mortgage lien resurfaces on the title?

We are pumping in some sweat equity: killing all the weeds and doing a non-organic mulch and river rock yard, power wash and paint the wooden fences, resurfacing all cabinets, faux-marble epoxy on the counter tops, and redoing the floors (there is a mix of scuffed up hardwood and wood appearing panel...looking to just make it all panel).

Expect to have the problem resurface and pay to retreat if they are the source of the infestation.

I'm due for a parking lot resurface at another property. 

Resurfaced countertops instead of replacing.

There are companies that resurface counter tops.

Years ago, I had an old pocelean over iron tub repaired with epoxy then resurfaced the whole thing.