This one is by no means a "home run" obviously, cause it'd be gone by now if so, but what i'm wondering is this: what if the right purchase price could make this an 8/10?

You may want to run some test ads.

However, you do run into issues of how you find the property to get under contract.  

A failed septic can run anywhere between $25,000 and $50,000.  

GET YOUR MONEY OUT WHENEVER YOU CAN and RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY... 

I have a portfolio of 20 rental units and I used to use VRBO to rent out all of them, when I went to refinance with the bank I was able to only get very little out and when I asked the bank why they said it was because I was 100% vacation rentals on the entire portfolio, they suggested to keep it more around 70% long terms so I won't run into the problem again.

Basically running their books all wrong trying to show no income thinking that it is a smart thing for some reason.  

This was my first reno so I only had one contractor run through the house, in the future I will meet with 3 minimum, but I am lucky that the company we chose has been fair and effective.

Haven't bought a half-house before, so haven't run into it.

@Mark Owens runs it.