This has held for 20years, but is not the complete solution.  

Pex is a lot easier to work with than past plumbing solutions.

It helps us to approach this with the idea that we can offer a solution to any seller (need to test this hypothesis, obviously).

The Solution- This is where you kindly come in and say some crazy magical plan of how I can help this woman 1) not live in a poor neighborhood because of price 2) sacrifice quality because of money/ financial ignorance 3) repair her credit, start over and set her up with a nice foundation to build on.

If you decide to ignore them and do it yourself, when you sell the property the solutions may cost you more in the end.  

Approach them from the perspective of having a solution for their problem.

As many of us know, "just a month" has a rather loose interpretation with some tenants.I have an "unauthorized occupant" clause in our lease, so there are consequences to the tenant of record if he overstays, but again - I just want a clear written agreement to memorialize the understanding of how long he may stay.We once granted permission for the father of our tenant to stay for a month in order to receive cancer treatments at a local hospital.

And you are also correct that you do need an "inside track" to buy the good deals.Gone are the days of straight up, high bidder getting the deal.I don't think anyone wants preferential treatment, Just a Fair Playing Field!

That may be a better solution.

Try box fans in the windows on one side of the house with the other Windows open.If the air is trapped in the house it can keep the skunk odor for weeks.If a day or two of the fans does not work then I would start with an ozone treatment.