To me their value is in chasing down late rent and collecting late fees as well as being willing to post notices and arrange for repairs  In Minnesota I paid a full month for placement, but then just $89/mo on $2700 in rent.

If they are not tire kickers, then I'll arrange to go see the property.After a property walk through, I'll call them with a verbal offer within 24 hours. 

If they can’t do that arrangement we politely decline 

Unless you have already arranged something with a lender.Income & Expenses (Cash Flow analysis):   The problem with the repair numbers have already been discussed. 

I spoke to the agent about 3 weeks ago, he said that he would arrange for my husband and me to see the units and get back to me.

Are you prepared to spend every weekend either involved in wedding events, or delegating to other folks and making arrangements to be away from your property?

They post an ad and when you respond they say that they (or their spouse) is in another country, so please send the deposit to him and they will send you the keys...or some other strange arrangement.

Investors that do hundreds or thousands of lowball offers should expect to have a different arrangement than people who buy 95% of the properties they make offers on. 

Sometimes the best way is to arrange regular times to do showings like 1-3pm on Saturdays so the seller can be available to let you and your prospective assigns in.Otherwise as stated, take pictures, and preferably a walk through video too.

I wonder if I can make some type of arrangement and wrap the two properties together to which we both come out as winners.