My rental applications have a sentence to the effect that they acknowledge and give approval for me to run a background check:"I (applicant) recognize that as a part of your procedure for processing my application, an investigative consumer/credit/criminal report may be prepared whereby information is obtained through personal interviews with others with whom I may be acquainted, which I authorize hereby."

I am struggling with deciding exactly how to start -- I'm trying to get more and more specific so it's easier to recognize an opportunity that is the right fit. 

You're just in too much fear to recognize who your friends are.

I've met a lot of people who have proven themselves to be full of fluff and air.

This results in the signed document or CAD file being much more smarter than the actual printed paper as the document contains relationship and provenence not on the printed drawings.If most of you are just putting signature images on the contract, does it really "count" legally?  

Recognizing where you are int he process is half the battle, so you are halfway there!

Most serious investors will recognize this for what it is - a huge waste of everyone's time. 

@Sean Ploskina Proven success.  

I recognize that as my portfolio grows and i start managing rentals for others, I will have to adopt a more rigid policy and enforce it consistently else possibly be viewed as discriminatory in how I apply my policies.  

and during the section on property management, my instructor emphasized that Maryland does not recognize squatters rights in rental situations.