My question is, is there way to get around this or is it even worth it from personal experience when attempting a wholesale deal?

I would be losing about $300-400/mo by renting it out but this would at least take away a little of the pain of two mortgages until I can re-attempt selling it at a more prime time.

I appreciate any feedback from anyone that’s done this or attempted it. 

However, without a professional attempt to remove the stains, I do not think it correct to charge the previous tenant for the carpet replacement.  

I really believe getting actual bodies to Olympia will help prevent unreasonable bills.

I'm not sure what your local laws are but here in Texas, I would recommend that you at least respond to the request and attempt to schedule the repair; I'd use it as an opportunity to go to the property and informally inspect it as well. 

I am attempting to apply and validate the knowledge I have learned, and hope to learn from any possible mistakes that I make.

Construction continued and we attempted to sell 4 months later after the market crashed to absolutely no avail.

No body knows your business like you do so you'll have to determine what's best for you. 

That's a tall order if you're asking me.What I can never help but wonder is if it is so much work and hassle to find people, people you can trust, people you can work with, people you likely do not already have a relationship with, people you will inevitably take a risk with, why don't more newbie investors attempt to instead pool resources with other people locally???