Pouring water on the surface is meaningless. 

For exterior areas, visually inspect that bare soil within 3 feet surrounding the perimeter of a building on the property has been covered, enclosures have been installed properly and painted surfaces have been properly sealed.o Following a visual assessment, a dust sample shall be collected from a floor, and if present, window sill and window trough in no fewer and four separate rooms.

@Zeb B.I always send this to my insurance as they will deal with it in a proper fashion.

I don't think you should look at deals at surface level.

People like water, location, view, trees, rocks and hard surface.  

Easy answer: issue anyone who works for you in that fashion a 1099.

For the tenant, the landlord (decision maker) makes sure repairs are done in a timely fashion.

That sounds good on the surface, but we are constantly doing laundry out the house, running up to the rental at least twice a week for 4-5 hours each time, and it really eats into our personal lives.

This is my intro into real estate and understanding writing up leases, landlord stuff, and other challenges that may surface.

I've seen other investor friends find deals the old fashion way.