Also, we have a meetup in the area once/month (East Lyme so far), organized by @Mat O'Grady .

Always need smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and a strapped hot water heater for appraisal also, in CA.

They failed to strap the pipes so now there is major rattling and pipe contraction noise in the walls where there didn't use to be.  

Hi @Mat FarmerThank you for your input.

What's keeping you from throwing on a haz-mat suit and shoveling your way through the garbage in there?  

As Jay was saying, loan amounts per property may be higher, but volume of deals allows for more diversified portfolios, the issue becomes loan amounts to one investor as they may have 8 homes in the mill, or one commercial startup with a 1/2 M at risk.

@Corey SchlueterIf none of your strategies include "not exiting" (ie. buy-to-hold), because you might become cash-strapped for other investments, then I agree with your conclusion.

If your house is of this construction, there is no practical way to inject/blow insulation into the wall cavity and you are left with the choice of either gutting back to the studs on the inside or removing the exterior cladding and applying housewrap and rigid insulation on the outside.If you do go the interior route, be prepared to encounter hand-sawn timber with substantial variance in dimensions - meaning you will need to shim and plane, or strap, to create a plumb wall for hanging sheet rock {putting back lath-n-plaster would be cost prohibitive and, in our case (a rental), non-compliant with current fire code}.Old buildings can be rejuvenated and made much more efficient, just factor in an additional 10-15% in your reno budget to address any discoveries.

If you are that strapped I wouldnt recommend a loan for a rental property because if its empty you still have to paythe loan.

-add new house numbers that fit the style of the home-add a potted plant--colorful, elegant, stylish--at the front door-add a new mat at the front door-park a luxury vehicle in the driveway or garage/carport for photos if the property is more upscale-clean (and organize?)