Prior to purchase the roof was replaced as was the water heater.

I am a real estate agent in the Columbia,SC market, but I actually starting investing 2 years prior first.

Go to your county and ask for instructions on filing a quitclaim deed or warranty deed.

For fish, we may charge a higher security deposit or require a higher renters insurance depending on the size of the aquarium.Typically we do all pets on a case-by-case basis pending owner approval, and there would either be a $500 non-refundable pet deposit due prior to move-in per pet or a $50 non-refundable monthly fee per pet. 

When making an offer on occupied property, I highly recommend you include a clause that the seller is not allowed to make any changes to the leases without your prior written permission.

Not a solution, but going forward...Have all adult tenant prospects fill out applications which require their social security number, driver's license number, their birth date, their current address and their prior address.

Someone should have done a better job of inspecting prior to returning the security deposit. 

I believe this may have been passed down to them prior and they don’t really do this often based on the condition of the home, and lack of communication.The back yard is overgrown with weeds, the sidewalk has been damaged and rubble for years now.

I've read online that you can get an FHA construction loan, but I can't seem to find much information or others with prior experience.Any thoughts or advice?

The reason I ask if it used to ascertain damage to something on the lot (water/sewer/utilities hookups or something) and you don't have pics and mutually signed documentation from the lessor/lessee upon each tenant's move in prior to your ownership, would you be able to justify a charge upon move out?