I don't know the areas so they could be pretty undesirable so this would require more time researching and traveling getting to know the market.What mystifies me though is how people manage property from afar.  

Don't use spackle on repairs, have him do mud instead, circle areas with a pencil and use 5 min hot mud.

@Andrew RoysterGetting your real estate license can carry some undesirable baggage. 

At this point the house should be done settling and cracks may have been repaired with drywall mud.  

How much, who knows but when the property tax bill including an added MUD tax exceeds $11,000 a year, something has to give.How that will affect other areas, who knows.

He did beautiful drywall & mud, carpentry...he just couldn't put his own life together, still hasn't.

In a different part of town, the owner may accept that price, but once you own the property, you may find the area is undesirable and it is difficult for you to easily find high quality tenants.

I was covered with mud and I scrapped my face and was embarrassed to say the least.

You can  then narrow down the statistical probability of them doing business with you.You can blanket an area....but you are just throwing mud against the wall...to see what sticks.

You don't want a mini-speedbump of drywall mud (joint compound) over the crack.