But others do it before work, after work and during lunch (early and late lunches too) and maybe around some half days at work. 

@Antoine Pippens I believe one of those "loopholes" is if you have to move further than 70 miles from your current residence for work.

I currently am doing a 1300 sq ft 2 bed, 2 full bath, half gut with all new electric, new framing, mostly new drywall, move a structural wall with nice finishes for $80k.As for where to find cheap labor, Home Depot, Floor and Decor, and just searching google and calling. 

The other building was a few miles away, and was a 31 units, 26 residential and 5 commercial units. 

IN DETERMINING WHETHER ALL OR PART OF THE RENT DUE AND OWING IS THE RESULT OF AN UNCONSCIONABLE RENT INCREASE, IT SHALL BE A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE RENT FOR A DWELLING NOT PROTECTED BY RENT REGULATION IS UNCONSCIONABLE IF SAID RENT HAS BEEN INCREASED IN ANY CALENDAR YEAR BY A PERCENTAGE EXCEEDING ONE AND ONE-HALF TIMES THE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR THE REGION IN WHICH THE HOUSING ACCOMMODATION IS LOCATED, AS ESTABLISHED THE AUGUST PRECEDING THE CALENDAR YEAR IN QUESTION;"  This sounds like you can still increase rent but it will based on change in CPI for the area. 

If monthly rent is $1000, the total rent owed by March 15 is $4500 (4 and half month rent).

I am in Shelbyville IL. about 60 miles south and West of Champaign.

That guy might also give you a low quote and hammer you with overages or extras half way through costing you more than the others anyway.

Your rental half is reported on Schedule E. 1/2 of your housing expenses go against the rental (assuming the 2 units are equal size).

You already used the first half of the old saying, "If it looks too good to be true...."