Others say a visual inspection is sufficient, unless there's a reason to drill, and charge between $500 - $1K per inspection.

I'm a bit more visual and personally appreciate a more minimalistic approach to presenting data and information.

Bigger Pockets Youtube channel is great to get a visual when learning some of the basics (analyzing deals etc), but also the BP podcats obviously.I also like "cash flow ninja" podcast, and "lifetime cashflow with real estate" by rod klief. 

When I'm at a property myself I'm experienced enough to do a thorough visual inspection but it can sometimes be difficult for me to be there as I live out of town but I suppose perhaps the answer is that I do need to make sure I can be there in person.

You can also drive by the property and perform a visual inspection before the auction date.Look for REO homesIf a home doesn’t sell to a third-party at auction, it becomes a real estate-owned (REO) home.

An 1890 three-family with visual structural issues to a novice usually will translate into much more capital expenditures over time.

@Derek Daun, does the insurance company know of the visual damage to the garage roof or were they just concerned about the tree limbs resting on the roof, which you have already taken care of?  

Create a visual of the score of the project and create a list of the things that are affected. 

The flooring vendor thinks the hallway floors need a 1/4 plywood underlay for the vinyl, which I think would be a disaster visually.

You can also use national tax lien association website resource section to look up the tax lien state map as that is visual as well.