., sign in the yard, FaceBook page & ads, and the BP marketplace.

Vacant properties - I classify these separately from  "abandoned", so I'm looking for For Rent signs, no window coverings, signs someone has recently moved out, etc.Abandoned properties - over grown yards, old fliers on the front door, anything that makes it look like people haven't been aroundDeferred maintenance - trees hanging on the roof, broken windows, lots of peeling paint, fence falling down, et.cFor anything except the For Sale by Owner and any property with a For Rent sign - both of which should have a phone number on the sign - I just use the county tax site to get owner contact information and send them a letter.Here's a link to 2 excellent Blog posts from Chris Feltus on Driving for Dollars...http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/05/03/driving-for-dollars-bible-part-1/http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/05/10/driving-for-dollars-tracking-owners/

I look for cracked bricks/mortar on exterior, missing condenser, roof condition, yard, etc. 

The insurance company must have had someone with a ladder look over the fence in the back yard in order to see it.

A neighborhood with a bad reputation, a salvage yard down the street that you have to drive past, being near an airport, could have odors from some factory a mile away under certain weather conditions that are common, these are EO factors you need to assess, as you say, build in more potential profit as you may end up giving more away.

I think it is absurd to eschew bandit signs on the basis of littering the area, when all the areas they would go are littered with political, we buy cars, yard sale and everything else.  

I lost one building with investors after a long hard battle. but the remainder of the investor units were able to be salvaged and were actually given decent returns in the end.I had 500 units of my own that I had refinanced with decent rates at the time. 

Hi @Micha Adler 90035 is in my back yard.

One, the yard grading and drainage systems had the water running right up to the foundation and two, the sump pump was clogged and allowed water that showed up to stay put.  

I need to have it removed (and then ultimately have the yard hydro-seeded or sodded).