Getting a copy of their driver's license might also be a good idea (just take a pic with digital camera).Going through that helps to weed out some of the bad characters ... but not all unfortunately.

When a seller offers their house for sale using the auction method of marketing, you just never know what they will accept to get that monkey off their back.I would suggest:Attend real estate auctions every day, foreclosures and and owner ordered salesSit in Rent Court 2 hours a week to listen to the cases, talk to owners after their case is heard and the judge finds against them and puts the rent into escrow.....talk about motivation.......yep it's thereSit in Housing Court, do the same as above; housing court is where owner are summons to due to failure to abate a violationFarm - walk around neighborhoods with a clip board in hand and a camera around your neck, look important.

I promise I know how to use a camera.)

The camera pic was taken outside - against the front window glass.

I personally like to scope the sewer lines on any purchase with a video camera to the street were liability ends since my x-ray vision is not what it used to be. 

What I do to save a whole heap of time bring a camera with me and I take pictures of the documents.

I would recommend it always, even if you buy outside of Akron proper and have to pay $240 to have a camera run through it.

We collect the mail at the Post Office and then drive a mere three blocks to our Credit Union where we open the mail within the security presence of CU cameras/tellers and deposit the rents into our account.

This was in light of a discussion I had regarding a "high tech" keypad lock and cameras a tenant wanted installed in a rougher neighborhood. 

Security cameras.