But now I'm on my own since those markets have recovered and I can't pound the ground to find my own.

I would tell him to go pound sand.  

If it’s full of junk and filthy take pictures then tell them to pound salt and they can hire a lawyer to get it if they like 

I hauled 10,000 pounds of stuff left in house and garage to landfill.

Off market opportunities are out there, but as more and more people buy off-the-shelf marketing and data, for instance absentee owner lists and yellow letters and postcards, property owners are being pounded with mail that only seems to serve to desensitize them, leave them numb and unresponsive.Today's successful investors utilize smart marketing strategies to identify off-market opportunities and multiple media (mail, call, knock) to reach and convert prospective sellers. 

I will be using the service for the purpose of locating homeowners with vacant and unwanted homes that are hard to locate.

I paid approx 32 thousand pounds sterling for the house including full renovation, but itobviously isn't worth that at the moment, I think they were a bunch of cowboys, although in the long term hopefully it will work out.

I wanted to start a discussion where individuals can connect and share unwanted leads, and others connect with those who have them. just because a lead doesn't fit one person's criteria, doesn't mean that it doesn't fit someone elses!

This is why the wise investors keep pounding it in our heads that the profit is made mostly by the purchase price, what value you can add to the property, and the markets economic moat.  

Blinds should also be free of dust and window frames are to be cleaned.REFUSE, RUBBISH, AND UNWANTED ITEMS are to be disposed of properly, and set out on the appropriate day.