Would love to work with someone and maybe do a some kind of shared venture.

But let's assume we're rookies and give me two realistic examples of how one would make you move to step 2 and the other would make you stop at step 1.Now if your answer is going to be based on "asking" price then don't bother.  

She came in saying she's taking pictures to post, and that her girlfriend who hasn't seen the house in a long time is stopping by at some point that night.

Can everyone stop promoting Birmingham.

If one of their appliances like the stove or refrigerator stops working we have a new one in there the following day, because everything in there was from 1985 so everything that has not been replaced is 25 years old.

Or will just having a contract stop the auction?  

I've ventured out on my own, so to speak, before with my own company and some of those skill will undoubtably carry over to this new venture; in-fact some already have.

Most state statutes read as long as it's a bonafide business venture the owners are protected from liability and debts created with in the scope of the business.  

If you remove yourself from your agency, the money stops coming in.

Be professional, carry yourself in a mature manner and be methodical in your ventures.