Most of them were advising their clients that if they wanted "a chance to buy" a house they needed to do this... 1) Go in 100k over list, 2) no inspection, 3) waive appraisal contingency  4) degrade yourself by begging the sellers to be so gracious to let you buy their house for 100k over value with a pathetic letter, 5) donate a vital organ to the sellers. 

Type of seller- REO, HUD,Owner, probate etc.. this is a vital information!!

Using public sites with free access is better than nothing, but it is not live, it us not as accurate, and it often is missing vital info and data.

What is VITALLY important however, is that you hand write the envelopes.

If I do decide to wholesale the property, what figures will be vital in my analysis as to what to offer the seller?

In saying that, it is still vitally important to make good and educated decisions of investments, but as you said, if you "Buy it right," that is how deals are founded. 

@Jason Sterner If you're specifically looking for urban areas I agree with @Nik Moushon - no regs means there's a vacuum that will get filled sooner than later.I'm in vacation markets where short-term rentals are a vital part of the local economy.  

Not sure what your strategy or goals are, but having rights and control of your properties is vital in this business.

And very little appreciation, they were 50k then, they are 50k now.Bottom line, cash flow is vitally important to keep your operation going, but it is not how you generate wealth in real estate.

Tell them what your goals are, ask them what THEY want out of you (as presumably you'll be a vital part of their deal flow eventually).