I screen with my eyes (visuals mean a lot. 

@Patrick Murphy, A REIT is not eligible for 1031 treatment because when you buy a REIT you are buying a security and not the underlying real asset. 

Within the last two months I did what I thought was making my home “renter proof” got rid of carpet, added new appliances, repaired and painted walls, fixed up the landscaping for some visual appeal.

But, you definitely get the red-carpet treatment for your first property.

Real estate get preferential tax treatment (vs. ordinary income). 

LENDER REQUIRED REPAIRS AND TREATMENTS: Unless otherwise agreed in writing, neither party is obligated to pay for lender required repairs, which includes treatment for wood destroying insects.

The neighbor just placed a note on my renter's door stating that they are starting termite treatment on a shared wall.

I'm expecting to get about $1,800 per month in rent.Questions: Is there any way we could get the sellers to pay for the termite bonding/treatment, especially considering that they tried to hide them? 

If you are a real estate professional and more specifically, if the income generated from selling this property would be classified as ordinary income you would have a completely different treatment.

Then 10-15 days later the mother and father went in and started seeking medical treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning.