The ceilings were almost brown, the carpet was full of burn holes and drink stains next to his easy chair.

They identified that the banking industry has a hole here, and decided to fill that niche.

. ;-)************************************************************Condemned California home with holes in roof, mildew, sells for $1.23 millionA condemned home in Northern California — with holes in the roof and mildew inside — recently sold for $1.23 million, becoming the latest example of the Bay Area's tight housing market.The home in Fremont was originally listed for $1 million but ended up closing at $230,000 over its asking price, listing agent Larry Gallegos told KTVU.

Also even though you did not "hire" them, a reduced rent in exchange for a service would be seen as an employer/employee relationship in a court since there is a defined monetary value.

It's entirely possible when these investors find out their cash cow is a cash black hole they will still be able to sell on the retail market to a homeowner willing to do the necessary renovations. 

They just tear it out, then patch up the hole.

I like eXp for what I'm currently doing, but if I go down the investment-only or commercial rabbit hole, I'd likely also need to consider a brokerage switch or becoming an independent broker.   

I am worried this lien may be in the 10's of thousands of dollars and I will end up in the hole on the property if that is the case.

Time is of course worth some monetary value, however I will make two points because this is something I think about almost daily.

Negligence is 4 parts, duty owed, duty breached, injury and monetary damages.