If I need help with color of flooring or paint I show photos to my creative team.

I'd be tempted to paint the gate the matching color and see if that would satisfy them.

With no skin in the game it will be hard to find investors or get financing.

Is the new paint or carpeting a funky color?

The bathroom utilities are 70s color yellow(made with this color), the kitchen appliances are very outdated, it has the faint odor of cat urine, and most of the carpet looks like it was stolen from the Scoobydoo Mystery Machine.

It is funny how your perspective changes depending on where you are sitting.I could imagine those two agents posting on an internet forum for real estate agents, talking about the lengths they had to go to to protect their elderly, seriously ill client from an unethical, fake buyer who was trying to take advantage of him with some sort of scammy-sounding "creative" offer that leaves all the risk with their client while requiring the "buyer" to put essentially none of his own skin in the game.Not saying that's you, but I could see it.

I had same problem in CA, tenants had not paid rent, the resolution was simple, the tenant was using drugs I caught his buddies in the garage smoking something colorful, I called cops, they were gone, issue resolved.  

The fiberglass is a bit stained and off-color in some areas; haven't yet tackled the detailing of this.

Usually HMLs lend at 70% LTV and they require you to have 10%-20% skin in the game.

Hi Jasmine,When I first started out, this is what I did to learn about the area:1) Talk to real estate agents to learn about the values2) Talk to neighbors of the subject property that I was interested in3) Talk to corner grocery/convenience store about the neighborhood4) Drive through the area during daylight AND after dark on weekdays and weekends5) Talk to someone at the local police department about the particular street I was investing in6) I would ask the person I spoke with at the local police department that if they had money available, would they invest in the property7) Talk to the local building department to see if there are any issues with other building on the street8) Talk to other local investors about investing in the are9) What are some of the fundamentals that make the area a good long term investmentI am sure there are more, but these are the things that I can think of.Good luck!!