I massaged the numbers way too much and as I started going through due diligence I began to realize that these weren't good deals. 

Your other numbers need massaging too.

Either through experience or seeing language in other leases that I liked.If the house will be vacant when you take possession, see if there are any improvements you can do that will boost rent and enhance "rentability." 

In going up it was due to the roof line and there being an attic space.Adding a room on by going out needs to consider existing configuration and aspect to enhance flow and comfort of the layout.With a big lot then going out seems the most obvious solution but what are other homes like in the area?

Start building your thought leadership platform, which should enhance your credibility.

I do nothing to enhance the property, but I replace the tenants with section 8 tenants and thus pull in $1500 per unit, increasing the cash flow by $400 per month.

Taking care of them promptly has enhanced their experience.

The "early bird gets the worm" argument had a lot of validity when work was restricted to M-F/9-5, but we work in a technologically-enhanced era that lets us stop thinking about this question entirely and instead changes the question to:When do you personally work most productively?

I use DealMachine for d4d, they allow an “enhanced search” and @davidLecko recommended a site if they can’t find the leads info.

In the beginning I wanted ever call to be a lead and every lead a deal and I spent a lot of wasted time trying to massage a lead like this.