and how did you acquire the tapes/pools when you started investing if you don't mind me asking.

Books and tapes fit that category. 

They video taped and took pictures of the house.

I have the choice of restoring the original roof, or going with a new asphalt roof. 

When the average person drives by and sees all these dumpy travel trailers and 5th wheels, they probably never imagine the slab of asphalt is generating $10K/month gross.

 ~80% of my deals have come through networking with others or adding value to someone else.Distressed properties - tall grass, signs in the yard, weeds growing through gravel driveway, boards on windows, trash all over the place, pieces of paper taped to door/window, overflowing mailbox, etc.

Could be a lot of red tape depending on the town and might not be worth the hassle unless you have the right people doing the work and are able to attract the right tenants.

I should have run a tape while I was there to measure the sq footage, but I think what is screwing them is having the wrong figure.  

One form of creative marketing that I have used in other industries and had success with is flyers taped to trash cans on trash day.

As far as Athas, I have an awesome rep there, but I think there is better private money out there depending on what you're trying to do with way less red tape and similar if not better fees/rates.