Hopefully we can rent it when we leave to go towards the mortgage, and someday sell it....I own a house free and clear in Pleasant Garden (Greensboro) North Carolina.  

It would be one thing if we had a $1,000 flower garden underneath the wall, or some exorbitant risk exposure (i.e. falling into the kids sandbox while kids play) but neither looks to be the case here.If he's concerned about cosmetics tell him to plant some pretty flowers ;) In terms of contractors though, you can call someone who does foundations, or a landscape contractor who does retaining walls.

But even with the positive soil results, my fiancee still can’t get over the mining history in the area, and the impact that would have on daily living (always questioning the safety of local produce, our dog not able to swim in local waters, hesitance to plant a garden...etc.).So as for us acquiring this property for personal use, I think that’s probably out of the question.

The main thing is to screen well, then almost everything else can be done with phone calls, texts and emails to tenant, plumbers, gardeners, etc.

And, you can assume they're already fighting about who is responsible for paying for the upkeep, who is making sure the pipes don't freeze, dealing with repairs, gardening, do they just want to rent it out....major hassles they're dealing with between them, probably.What can you offer them that's too good to refuse? 

They will eat up your time and be bad neighbors to other tenants and be rude to contractors like gardeners, etc. 

Every tenant says "I love to garden/weed/mow/etc," but that is NEVER true.

Vacuum and sweep the floors, outside steps and walkway.Weed the garden bed.Before attempting to clean stains from carpets and other surfaces, please call us so we can recommend suitable cleaning methods.Do not attempt to clean carpets with a shampoo machine as doing so may cause damage to the floor covering and the floor beneath.Utilities.You are responsible to pay for utilities through the last day of your rental period.Call the utility companies in advance and let them know the date of your last day of tenancy.Be sure to change mail delivery and subscription services to your new address.Inspection.Please let us know when you have vacated the unit and make an appointment with us for a final walk-through.You are not required to be present for the move-out inspection, but we highly encourage it.Before we begin the inspection, we will ask you about any known damages that occurred during your tenancy.Please note, it is often less expensive for us to repair damages than for tenants to repair damages, so talk to us first before attempting to repair any damage.The unit should be thoroughly clean both inside and outside and be ready for the next tenant.Final Report on Deposits.Within fourteen (14) days of our regaining possession of the unit, we will mail to you a complete written accounting of any money withheld from your security deposit and return the remainder.We will deduct for extra cleaning, damages, unpaid fees, unpaid utilities and unpaid rent, if such apply to your situation.Please provide us with your new address.Thank you.

Imagining it’s going to be a neglected rental with some bean counting company doesn’t make you feel the house you lived in for however many years and took care of will be left in good hands...It’s one thing if someone takes out the garden and plants a tree but if you installed and maintained fixture after fixture, kept that place nice and tidy, the last thing you want is to imagine a bunch of random people running around and letting things around you rot to ****.

That's how arrived at it.(5) I pay the gardener on my primary $50/month.