Also, the room off the kitchen has a wood stove that isn't very attractive (though it's not an eye sore) and appears rather small, and the living room appears to have once housed a wood stove.

Hopefully that wont' make me stand out like too much of a sore thumb.

So, as a result it only took about a month before I realized that this "disorder" he had was indeed quite severe.  

So it popped out like a sore thumb and felt unusual to find this in such a neighborhood. 

Chances are one knows what's going on - and they would probably like to get rid of the eye sore.

If so, red flag.

People in above situation may not have the capacity or judgment to make the best decision for themselves,  so relying on a voluntary policy for getting people treatment they need means in the end fewer get it,   and they are probably worse off by the time they accept it.      

This home is in a constant state of ever evolving disorder.

they did not buy the homes fix them then sell.I had a decent size HML company at the time and started funding BRRRR for rentals in Detroit in 02.. and to your point we would not provide the A and D part of BRRRR until the buyer/borrower was qualified from the take out lender..this point is sorely missed by many doing BRRRR today who think its some new thing just thought up and a book written about it.you exactly right anyone contemplating this method of investing should get their take out loan approved or at least deep pre qual before they purchase.In our model we had our clients fully qualified and appraisals ordered on what they were buying and the refi was sub too a 442 re inspect.. there was no seasoning then.. so I made the HML and my average loan was out 91 days.. it was great for about 6 years.. 

The few (all were disordered) that made excessive or inappropriate calls, quickly found that it was a bad idea.