I have offered to waive the background check fee (we have no record of a background check run by the previous landlord) but I am not sure he would pass- the income he rattled off wouldn't be 3x the monthly rent (even for his half) and he has a DUI from 14-15 years ago (not sure if this would show up in a criminal check or not).  

However I suspect there is a rattle snack coiled up under that tempting welcome mat. 

If you're  a DIYer, to bring the average home into compliance with what I rattled off above will probably cost less than $500.  

If it is worthwhile, document the failure to repair via photographs and rattle the cages of the realtors.

this time as a guest, we rented a farm house in Sequoia National Park, beautiful house surrounded by rivers , horses, cattle, gorgeous view, ... park the car in front of the house, walk into the house and start checking out... take stuff to the kitchen and guess what is posted on the fridge: Huge picture of a rattle snake, with the word WARNING in red, right above another post of a huge picture of a black tarantula same scary sign.

The bathroom fans were rattling really bad so I pulled them out and found out the bathroom fans are ventless. 

Can you check on my property and chase away rattle snakes?

In most cases when they rattle off their life story to you they are trying to see if they will get approved before they apply.

They just take longer to counter-offer so don't let them rattle you on this one.

She rattled her sabers saying she could take to court, or she would file this or that and I just agreed, saying yes, we could do that.