I saw a piece of advice on here that I have used more than any, it was that if you are not embarrassed by how low your offer is, then you offered too much.

First I love this site, the forums, and podcast (which is always playing in one ear)!

The biggest piece, is that they are not my empkoyees.

I'm guessing the adjuster used a similar piece of software to generate his estimate, which was probably pretty close for someone paying retail contractors.

I think the *intent* is so someone is not making an 'income' from their retirement acount (save putting 10K of labor into a flip).So, can you take off the screen and take it in to be repaired or put a nail in that piece of trim that is loose?

I recently did some "biking for dollars" over the weekend (it was actually a leisure bike ride that just turned into a home search)I found the easiest way was just to connect your iphone to your head piece and just use SIRI to make a note of addresses when you ride by. 

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to check out the Bigger Pockets "Beginner Guide" and from there read some of the great articles about landlording, all of which can be found in the "Learn" portion of the website (and are totally free!)

Split your education up on this in to a couple of pieces:1.

Noticed one with a white piece of paper on the front door (possibly and REO), and another nice looking brick house with the yard grown up to waist high.

They can be a landlord's eyes and ears for when a tenant is misbehaving.