More often than not there is something important than money such as (quick or long close, more ernest money showing skin in the game, loan type, broker, etc).

They help keep up owner occupied units which naturally have more interest in keeping the building nice vs. renters.

For anyone to be culpable for any loss suffered by another, they must have acted in a reckless manner or have been negligent, acts of God such as  storms or natural disasters are not events mortals are culpable for, speak to your clergy for guidance. 

So really wasn't any skin off my nose if they did or didn't clean the house before moving in,

Setting up a strong team is the most important thing for new investors to help you get some skin in the game.

Natural neutral colors, no?

Start with a small multi flip using hard money (or a combination of my money and hard money) and then trade up to bigger multis (1031 or carry over the note) until I reach the kind of cash that the bank or lender would consider as enough skin in the game to lend me the rest.4.

Do a live in flip.)To be successful in real estate you need these Ingredients - knowledge, networking, money, determination/persistence and if you don't have any of these things then you need a lot of SWEAT equity to get those three things.Some of us who are older have some money, networking (just by nature of being older and having met a lot of people along the way).   

I also would suggest building a strong team around you or partnering up with an experienced investor for your first few projects to help you get some skin in the game and walk you through the process.

I think the first time newbie buying their very first rental and does it in a area that is all the way across the country is taking on a little more risk than anyone will let you know about ( IE those trying to sell them to you and or its their livly hood to sell them... ) its just human nature.