Was a drug addict but allegedly clean for 5 years.

We were planning $600/mo mortgage payment, $100/mo insurance & $100/mo taxes - balloon payment in 5 yrs.We are providing $5k to pay back taxes ($4k), back hoa ($125), pump septic & grease trap clean out ($225), survey ($600)  & our children are paying closing costs ($1500).Deal stalled as owner backed out on seller finance.Suggestions?

If the background check and credit check come back clean, then I approve the tenant and walk them through setting up online payments.

Clean them really well with something like TSP and use an enamel paint and let it fully cure.Renos for a rental vs your own home or resale are a bit different.

The disadvantages in my opinion are the meeting and greeting and cleaning up after people. there is more management involved and what would happen to your profits if you hired the duty out? 

I want to avoid holding costs with him holding onto it while we renovate, but how to I make this as clean as possible?

Your only option now is to come up with the money to buy the place or come clean and admit everything to the owner.

But if you allow tenants to have pets it is not maintenance free and needs to be cleaned/sprayed down etc.

He can also leave any furniture behind and we will clean up.2 – Flexibility to close/move in on date at his convenience.What other suggestions should I make to make my offer better?

However, you can expect to recover about 50-55% of your investment when selling the home.Improve curb appeal, which is what you mentioned before, clean up the exterior, add landscaping, and make minor improvements to enhance the property's first impression.