We create a preliminary estimate.  

This will give you a preliminary idea of the land usage of surrounding houses as well.

I suspect you did not have representation when you went into this deal the time to  pull a preliminary title report is before doing it now is I bet going to show this seller owes money and he probably or maybe does not have the funds to clear the mortgage off of the property so he can deed it to you free and clear..

The city sent me a bill to pay the water bill for a few hundred bucks which shocked me because i was never aware she wasnt paying her water bill.

You may consider having a title company do a preliminary title search but that is costly. 

I'm often shocked at the number of people in Chicago who will pay $1,800 a month for a 1 ba apartment with no upgrades and window air conditioning.

I spoke with my contractor today and he is going to talk with an architect we have used in the past to see if he can work with us in this preliminary phase.  

I would not order title work until you have remove the preliminary contingencies of home inspection, rehab bids and financing, unless you have reason to think that there are issues on title.

For a long time I was just plain shocked when I would see a vacation rental's T-12 and even more shocked when I figured out that PMs want 18%-30% of gross rents to manage them. 

The first 2 brokers were shocked, didn't want to do it, thought I was stupid, the 3rd said in such a market, if you underprice it, people will bid over asking.