Basement concrete floor needs advice.

[Smeagle]

Basement concrete floor needs advice.

Hi. I am the 100 year old concrete floor.
I am very uneven and have some holes where carpet tacks were, and some gird marks from tile adhesive, too. My owners want to make me look better. The celing over my head is barely 6' so there's not a lot of room to level me. What is the best way to smooth me out without compromising headroom. My owners might want to put down some tile in the future but will probably just paint me for now. Do they need to prime me before painting? Is the self leveling epoxy I heard about a good way to go or is there something else?
Any advice is appreciated!!

[twelvepole]

If you plan on installing ceramic tile at a later date, do not paint the floor. Paint, cutback adhesives, gypsum based fillers or levelers, sealers, or chemically treated cement substrates are unsuitable surfaces to install ceramic tile over. You will also need a very flat floor. Low spots can be filled with self-leveling compound. High spots may require grinding. Scrape off adhesive. (Note: Do not scrape if it contains asbestos. The only way to know for sure is to have it tested.) There is a thinset for tile to cover cutback adhesive. Concrete should be tested for moisture.