The front and back yards had been used as a junkyard, with things like concrete masonry units (cinder blocks) stacked in pyramids, 2x4s throw haphazardly around, pieces of OSB and plywood stacked against trees, and piles on piles of old siding.

Pick a market by studying, there are no shortcuts there.

A shortcut in discussions like this. 

Unless you live and breathe Real Estate every day, for years and years, your interpretation of the data, and your knowledge of all the hundreds of little tips, tricks, ans shortcuts which accumulate over the year, simply cannot compare to a full time Broker who embraces his calling in Real Estate.

A wise investor will not try to get rich quick with shortcuts.

There is no “shortcut”.

There is just no shortcut here.  

Unfortunately no shortcut.

There is no short cut, unfortunately. 

I think you incur a considerable liability when you try to shortcut something designed to save you big dollars and risk.Frankly, I would spend the money on the liability insurance regardless.