This negative position can consume years of cash flow to recover.

This was so important to our business that we covered the cost of these consumable kitchen supplies for all our owners.

Make it clear that you’re prepared to go to court, potentially jeopardize his license, or report him to consumer protection services—or at least make it clear you’re considering these steps.

Density is coming to the area which will bring foot traffic and potential consumers to make the commercial spaces on the ground floor worth owning.

The "DTI" is generally used in consumer loans (like a mortgage for a house) and "DSCR" are used with commercial loans.

Most businesses cannot pass the cost to the consumer anymore, because with costs even as is the demand has not been met.This has hit down to the employees, and their consumer spending.

I've also thought about direct contact, such as door to door or cold calling, but door to door is very time consuming and doesn't have the promise of meeting the actual owner of the property, and I still haven't figured out how to get phone lists of potential leads.

Catherine id highly recommend spending a full day or two consuming youtube videos that specifically go into detail about this process, theres so much to teach and writing this whole thing out would literally be a whole book.

Although time consuming, I'm guessing that evaluating their condition periodically would help with the end of lease turnover cycle? 

As you said, they show up, answer questions about the local market, provide useful data when needed, and just are a general value add to the forums.I think it's fair for consumers to take what an agent says about the market with a grain of salt, but over time, their reputation for giving good info without the smarm wins.