My mom’s husband was a good-ol-boy who would give anyone a deal and the shirt off his own back.

We return text messages as soon as we receive them, because it guarantees both sides are informed and date stamps the conversation. 

It sounds like he stamped his name on a company to help promote it. 

(additional info: changing the stairs or getting new ones would be a massive undertaking)You might be able to get them to sign some sort of waiver, but then if anyone gets seriously hurt it likely won't save you.Some attorney will argue you willfully ignored a known safety issue, and as the "big bad landlord" you'll lose your shirt and then some.Plus, your post here will be Exhibit A and definitely won't win you any points with a judge!

Time stamps are provided so you can go directly to specific concepts..

Several things to contribute here: 1) Private Lenders with no credit experience emerge doing down payment and 100%/High LTV financing at the end of every cycle, 2) they're among the first to loose their shirts in every downturn, 3) although someone termed this type of lending "gator", it's not new, 4) the guy that coined it didn't get into real estate untill well after the last crash, 5) he has no real credit background or experience (he's never been a lender), 6) Google the guy's name and "looses professional license in AZ" to see what pops up, and finally 7) he's really effective at telling people what they want to hear, filling their heads full of hopes and dreams, getting them to buy his training, and his minios generally won't want to hear what a real, seasoned lending vet will try to tell them.

Especially in this market where everyone is paying a sky hi premium for run down properties, but again you can also loose your shirt.

Some perform quite well and some you might lose your shirt on. 

I have a letter, tweak it a little each mailing, print letters and envelopes, hand sign every one of them, fold, stuff, and stamp all myself.It's a numbers game and takes a while to play before you get results... unless you hit an owner at just the right time, that is.Some people alternate between postcards and letters.

By using the PMs contractor - they have given their stamp of approval on him/her.