This can then lead to the blind or misinformed leading the blind and misinformed.  

Some creative ideas that you see that I have a blind spot to.

I'm not one to ask someone to hold my hand, but it would be nice if someone could point me to a checklist of some type that basically breaks it down step-by-step so I don't waste time going down the wrong path and I implement an actual system instead of blindly throwing darts. 

You need to find professionals that will get you what you want because of their market knowledge (or set you straight if you're being unrealistic), not paper pushers who are willing to play blind-folded darts for you.To be fair, there are a lot more of the latter than the former.  

The blind leading the blind analogy came into play with me as I realized I am learning more and doing more on my own than depend on my agent, so find someone who doesn't lack communication skills and has timely reply to texts/ phone calls, and can give you more information than you can get on your own, and takes your business and what you are trying to do as serous as you are taking it.

While auctions typically do require immediate payment, there often is some (perhaps limited) opportunity to inspect the property prior to sale.Otherwise, private lender or not, you're just buying blind, and that's rarely a winning investment strategy!

I wouldn’t blindly trust Trump to keep the market afloat just because he’s the president.

You can also probably "harden" your units more by using different materials that are more tenant-proof, such a LVP flooring, use 1x4 wall cleats mounted on the studs for towel racks, door stoppers, only the necessary appliances for your market, semi-gloss paint and the same color throughout, simple or no landscaping, remove screen doors and replace with plexiglass, remove as many things that break as possible, remove any pull chords on fans and blinds that tenants always break, etc.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time ;-)

You could put blinds in the windows downstairs and the lender might be happy with a good drive by appraisal.