But its likely you are simply overestimating the effect of an inquiry. 

We wasted about 3 months finding and vetting our new contractor & getting a great architect for the major structural changes.Was this process a trial by fire?

Door knocking - they have to be home and receptive to listening to you so if either scenario doesn't take place, you have wasted your time.

Over the course of a few years, you have great baselines built up and can then more effectively negotiate with your property manager to reduce these fees, especially if you have a substantial number of units.  

Did you ever think that the seller was mad because you were wasting his time and possibly he could of been losing out a deal he could of had going which you spoiled or made him look unprofessional by your delayed closing?  

Geeze, get a current survey then, this is all just wasted effort.

With the custodian approach, they hold the funds, sign every document, cut every check, and receive every deposit.If your investment interests are more dynamic, and will involve multiple assets or assets that require a lot of transactions such as rental property, then a plan offering checkbook control such as an IRA-owned LLC will be more more effective and efficient. 

From what I understand, market changes effect home buyers (flippers) more than they effect renters (buy and hold). 

I tell them my boss buys houses in the area and then ask if they are selling or interested in selling.I know there has to be a more efficient way, maybe going closer to the actual foreclosure date so they realize the urgency or something along those lines and also maybe approaching the conversation differently.Does anyone have any advice, or methods they have found to work effectively? 

Im checking a list in a county where I live and im already up to 3k how good are these lists, do the trees bear fruit or am a wasting Fiji water to see them grow?