The agent has to disclose any known issues, so perhaps an inspection was done and it revealed major issues.

This will reveal ADR (Avg Daily Rate) and occupancy.

Kelly you are revealing my secret strategy!

If let's say one of your contingencies was not met then like an inspection that revealed structural damage that you could not come to a new agreement with the seller on, then you would both sign a document to release the earnest money so the deal would be dead and you could get your money back.As far as other costs, there are the normal costs in the transaction like paying an inspector, lender fees and such.

The trouble starts about 3 months in, a random inspection reveals the tenant has 2 dogs and 5 cats, we have no pet deposit in place, and the unit is completely trashed. 

NOWHERE does the installation manual reveal this idiosyncrasy & the 1-800 help-line had no clue.

My contractor revealed they had simply slapped glue underneath the cheapest and thinnest vinyl on a surface that wasn't sanded and even.

Depending on local law and the office policy of that Agent, they may be able to act in the capacity of a Dual Agent; or allow you to be "unrepresented"; or treat you as a "customer", which usually means they will help you "fill in the blanks" on a purchase offer for their Client's property, but they cannot advise you what to fill most of those blanks with.In theory, all Agents must be fair and honest in their dealings with Buyers AND Sellers, BUT, they are limited by law in what they can reveal about their actual Client to other parties involved.Another point I would like to make is regarding comments about Agents not understanding the numbers.

This is achieved by asking a few key landlord-tenant handbook approved screening questions that I will reveal at the end of the course during an interactive role play session.

Kind of like working out for what feels like forever, with "no progress", and then one day you look in the mirror and see that ab starting to poke out and reveal itself!