Mailing is the least personable, and the least effective.  

First mistake, provided a free incentive to please and secure your tenant, you should always stick to the rules, you must charge accordingly, always enforce pro-rated terms, if/as stated in your contract ease terms.I always like to say that an exception, quickly extends into the rule (As a general rule of thing, we absolutely do not bend on any rule and enforce every element (within reason))Another view is that if you are the individual, the owner, the landlord, the point of communication, it is more difficult to distance yourself from the emotional element, sometimes the emotional attachment to the asset, will shut down your business side of thinking for a brief weak moment, you must restrain from that.

The contractor that had come in and saved me was now not showing up to work or communicating properly.

I'm no expert but I would guess not much.Every disclosure I ever filled out said, " to the best of your knowledge" and every inspectors report I ever saw said at the bottom, something to the effect that if they miss something you can not hold them liable.

I was wondering what the best and most cost effective way is to find clear title on the homes I want to bid on.  

And if so, any suggestions on what volume or dollar amount this would logically take effect and still be fair to all of us?

What's the most cost effective and tax beneficial way to do this?

The GTO will remain in effect from March 1, 2016 through August 27, 2016 with the possibility of being extended depending upon what the policy uncovers.

This has effected numbers on a few sources I've looked at. 10k isn't bad.

Also, is it effective to start rent higher than projected and just work yourself down until someone bites?