There have been changes over the past year to comply with new regulations and a there are a few enhancements.

The house is 77 years old, 1050 sq/ft, block and beam with 100% brick veneer, needs about $55,000 in additional improvements and has foundation problems (rear of house sits 7 inches lower than the front). 

Some not so obvious causes for termite that should signal taking a closer look for termites is any wood to ground contact (pressure treated lumber is not safe from the threat of termites if installed directly in the ground), foliage, siding less than 6 inches from grade,high dirt, and subtle wood piles up against the house.

I have never felt comfortable with that level of risk, though I have all the respect in the world for people who do it.To me construction is always about fighting: for financing, for time, for inches of space, for quality workmanship and for the best materials at the price you can pay.

He then cut each individual 2x3 inch mini check out of the sheet. 

Brush up on code requirements: in basements you're looking for egress windows that are 5.7 sq feet or more openable (3ft by 3ft casement style windows work best), and ceiling heights 6ft 8 inches or greater (as little as 6 ft 4 inches is ok under ductwork and beams though)3.

We just got 10 inches of snow .

This adds I believe 1.5 inches from ceiling.Primary issue: Footfalls (just walking around would be hard for someone to focus downstairs)- 5/8" gyp rock affixed to the subfloor for footfall dampening w/green glue- Rockwool for high noise/voice attenuation- Sound channel clips for air separation- And to go further: double sheetrock with green glue.- Custom boxes around each of the light cans ($175 each) OR switching to wall sconcesThe primary cost is the sheetrocking labor itself, as It's not just the ceiling replacement, it's aligning the new ceiling texture with the walls.Given there is a stairwell from main floor downstairs, he recommended two solidcore doors, which parts + labor would be $2k each.What will we end up doing?

I put the 2 inch faux-wood blinds up, and charge tenants if they break them (nobody has, yet).

That unit is only 11x14x6 inches & our highest monthly electric bill was $48 (& $23 of that is the std monthly delivery charge) & that's with everything electric & a/c running.