I don't know how to estimate what a bathroom or bedroom is worth, or a 1 car garage.

This house went under contract twice and the last time was on September 22nd and on the door the city had left a sign on Spetember 23rd saying they have turned the water on, but looks like noone entered the property since then.

If something comes up and he decides he wants to sell it later (whether its a job relocation or because someone knocks on his door and makes him a good offer on it), he is fine to do so, because he didn't buy it with the intention of selling it.

Had this stuff in the garage for a while but it became just too cluttered.Can I take the proportionate expenses of this bedroom as a storage expense?

I'm not afraid of loosing my job as much as seeing chains on the door knobs.

You could politely ask if they would be willing to work on the garden, read on the back porch, fiddle with something in the garage - just somewhere where they are not under foot and could kill the deal by being too pushy or talkative.

Do you get actively involved in the process.. making calls, door knocking, etc.?

I would first go knock on the door and talk to the tenant about their situation before paying for legal counsel.

That last part is an important clue to vetting the don't care properties from the ones that the owner just hasn't gotten around to working on (REO, rehabber, developer, etc.).Do you mail, door knock, hire kids on bicycles, etc.?

I include appliances where they are already present, and wherever the access for moving in appliances is a serious challenge (for example, I have one unit where we had to remove the door and the door stop molding to get the machines through the opening).