Snow clean up? 

They cleaned the house and did a decent job. 

Typically, you will have some repaint, carpet cleaning or replacement, etc in each turn over.  

When auction.com had live auctions in 2008 to 2010 the auctioneer guaranteed the titles would be clean and free of liens and encumbrances, but today the auctioneers will not give any clue in regards to a clean title.

Bear with me, because this might be a stretch, but maybe the bank through which you process the income on the $40MM income-producing real estate portfolio might be a potential solution to your problem?

Use the deposit to handle cleaning and repairs, then refund the remainder.

I want to write the owners a letter (I'm 3 hours away) explaining the situation and asking them to at least pay the legal and recording fees for getting it cleaned up. 

Hopefully they have some construction experience and can either confirm for you what is needed or give you an alternative solution.  

Preferably one that actively purchases investments like you are purchasing.2) An investment specialized local realtorThese 2 specialists will give you a list of practical solutions, and then you can create a road map and the 3 of you can work in lockstep, with the same goals to get you there.

Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, coffee, towels and sheets, laundry detergent, etc.