It is a mathematical equation, it has nothing to do with an area or a feeling of emotion.

These dogs may be an emotional  support animals which may make handling this touchy. 

The cost to do nothing involves a drive over there to set the temporary pump if this ever happens again.This is our only rental and it's our first rental.

Fear and greed are strong emotions.

I know you can't discriminate against race, religion, sex, handicap, LGBT, emotional support and service animals, now they are adding co-signers, lol. 

Doing what it was suggested (not your problem after 10 years) is an ethical issue by just trying to convince the owner of some repairs that eventually will need more expenses/money towards the "temporary fix". 

When I finally went "all in" on REI it was during a perfect storm of events & stresses, so it started with the emotional and ended with the practical:- I was disillusioned and frankly heartbroken by events at a prior employer so I didn't think I could work for someone else ever again.- I wanted to keep the yield of my labor/ideas, take control of my future, live through my efforts and rise or fall on my own merits.- REI was the only thing I could start doing right away, which I was also already somewhat familiar and could also provide enough income and growth to secure a financial future.

All loan officers know this but many play the game of "what the client wants to hear" and give the client fluff (unfounded bad info on what they can do) because they hope by doing so you will call them when you are emotionally ready to apply.The good news is that the credit bureau’s recognize that you may need more than one lender to look at your credit when getting a home loan and they do not penalize you more than once for this shopping for a mortgage in a 30 day window.

If you don't have the stomach for it then I would suggest not even getting started because you might become an emotional wreck and get ulcers and such.But if you want to be in the game sometimes you have to take some risks.  

I was competing with families with emotional buying...all offers were above list and many highest and best.