If it's something major it'll probably kill the deal, I once had a REO offer killed by a $1M+ code lien on a $30k house for rotten wood on the fascia and siding and some peeling paint.

P: It helped, but I think it just masked the pain, and transferred it to a different place   (...I just paid all the cumulative negative CF up front)...by back.D:...so then what?

I guess we have to peel back the layers on this to see what is up.

Market rate would be about $1600-$2,000 depending on condition.  2nd floor is old and run down looking, but overall ok.  2nd floor has an enclosed porch that is supported on metal beams but looks like it needs to be totally fixed, peeling paint, torn screens, rotting floor boards. 

The siding is a rustic look barn siding and the wood is beginning to peel and splinter badly.  

The two big ticket items were paint $1500 (1200 sq ft home with peeling paint on door frames and new paint needed for all interior doors) and $1100 for carpet ($0.85/sq ft @ Home Depot).

This house has absolutely no chipping or peeling paint, it actually has been newly rehabbed and has latex paint.

Stick some masking tape on the tile and mark your holes on the tape.

Lots of people became interested and then one of them bought it.On this second house that I have, I tried to take very detailed pictures, including ones showing paint peeling off of walls etc. to make sure investors knew what they were getting into.

There are 4 types of wholesalers. 1, the bunch that don't understand, 2. the bunch that do and don't care, 3. predatory dealers and 4. bulk buyers who attack a portfolio of properties and peel them off to single buyers. #1 are usually victims of bad advice, guru crap, they think they know, but don't have a clue. #2 & 3 are simply bad players in real estate, the low life types. #4 usually are dealing with sophisticated sellers, buying, say 20 homes at a time, they will line the transactions up and most likely have a real estate license.