I'm more of a visual learner.

I have found that it is far easier to do anything visually oriented.

For some people...I know hard to believe, but for some people all they can visualize is debt relief.

From what I visualize it needs total landscaping, paint, and bahama shutter repair to start; no pics of the inside.

On the positive end of the spectrum, it would seem to be a great deterrent against the "habitual complainer" or for cases where the scope of the repair is easy, clearly within the capability of the tenant, and doesn't warrant an overpriced contractor.

It helps a lot to visualize the deal.

here is what I do, I pull the property in zillow(not the best but visually you can't beat it).

That's the biggest deterrent/obstacle to success in this business and in most businesses.There are several outfits that will take the calls for you and ask the questions if you want.

Certainly unethical, but given that this was a retail seller and not a wholesaler, there's really no recourse (with a wholesaler, the bad reputation could be enough of a deterrent).I've always wondered if the 3-day approval period was something that wholesalers and other investors used as a means to throw out non-contingent offers that they could still rescind if a couple days of due diligence indicated it wasn't a good deal. 

For the buyer, it's about visualizing what could be there, not what is.