What if I told you, my partner and I, are willing to do the work, as we have already begun doing so (i.e. direct mailing marketing, driving for dollars, etc)?

If they are doing hourly or salaried work that is not "the practice of real estate", then you're fine.For anything that falls within "the practice of real estate" in your state, you most likely would have to pay their broker/brokerage - so they would need to have a sit down with their broker about how the fees would be allocated between the broker and the agent on the receiving end.In California, the practice of real estate is defined as:"a person who, for a compensation or in expectation of a compensation, regardless of the form or time of payment, does or negotiates to do one or more of the following acts for another or others:  (a) Sells or offers to sell, buys or offers to buy, solicits prospective sellers or puchasers of, solicits or obtains listings of, or negotiates the purchase, sale or exchange of real property or a business opportunity.

As always, the best deals are direct between you and seller!

@Adam Sherritt, I assume you're dealing directly with a seller.

After talking to her she is interested in receiving help seeing she wants to get the properties up to par and rented out.

We received a rental inspection registration form from city and we filled it up.

I would only do the deal if I had direct control.

I've received a request to provide professional pest control service from tenant to help eliminate pest issue at the rental property. 

I've also used listsource and do a lot of direct mailing.

Receiving rent payment is your only issue, stay out of his personal life.This is one of the reasons I never rent to anyone that is self employed.