If you plan to bid on any of the house at the auction, make sure you do a little research first to make sure that the house has a clean title.

If so, when they move out, discuss keeping some or all of it to clean the unit. 

Title is clean.

I have saved quite a bit of money and won’t need to work a regular job for the next year at least.

Later i found out why the cats were there...the local feral cat society set up shop behind the shopping center creating a make shift habitat for these feral cats, and would even come by and feed them on a very regular basis. 

After taking over my management, it took some time, but  I have found established, reputable people for cleaning, maintenance, etc., who answer their phone and get things done when I call them.

I would clean up and beautify the exterior, to let the neighbors know you are trying.  

Do you pull permits for interior painting and cleaning gutters??

Curb appeal and keep it clean.

Just make sure you can get your deposit back on the assignment if the title can not be cleared or it can not close because of something out of your control.Also, @Jay Hinrichs the wholesalers you dealt with was just dumb for trying to get a assignment fee so big from a buyer he does not know and deal with on the regular.