And very cool on the financial background...that will put you miles ahead in buying properties because you already know numbers.

One option that may work would be to go ahead and include water/sewer/sanitation in the lease but only up to a certain reasonable limit. 

It can also be used to help visualize any long lead time items that have to be purchase ahead of time.

I would like to know is there a formula for analyzing a franchise for resale?

Still, I think that I have learned a lesson which is - go ahead and make the offer even if it's less than their counter-offer.  

Common here, septic tanks get a perc  test, water test the well at the well head or ahead of the pressure tank.

Maybe the previous inhabitants were in the business of raising indoor plants.

Someone very famous told you to grow where you are planted.

I like to spend time working on my business and plant more seeds for future deals (both front end and back end opportunities).

Don't get greedy, if you have the money, follow more of a management path, do ten deals a year for half the money, you'll do better than doing three trying to do more or everything.Your dad probably has a head for numbers, you concentrate on keeping the money safe he can see if things pencils out.