The point being title searching is not 100% science and absolutes, there is some interpretation, some conclusions that different people will reach different conclusions.AND in 900+ deals that I've done for myself and the many more that I've done with clients, there has only been 1 time that a title insurance claim was paid!

You don't necessarily have to go for stainless appliances but some more modern ones wouldn't hurt.

We are getting ready to open escrow and I will need to put everything in modern files.

I'll finish my Ph.D. in Computational Social Science later this year.

Plus you need to see the comps from the MLS,if any from a good real estate agent to determine what the property is worth now and after you make repairs and improvements.Equity is determined by the amount of money owed to the bank and what another person is willing to pay for it today in " As Is" condition.Get a good contractor to walk the property with you to determined the current physical condition and what it would take to repair and decorate it to modern standards and bring it to its full After Repair Value.

I wanted modern colors.  

A lot to learn but again its not rocket science here.

There is no perfect science, but making sure you approach the deal with a skeptical / conservative eye is important.

Nobody in the industry can execute well on securities law, real estate, technology, data science, marketing, institutional financing, etc.  

Get multiple quotes, build relationships, get real about your numbers. lol right Jason, no magic here only logic and science.