One thing you might want to do is to let them know that you will work with their agent, but hoped you could help them move quickly to foster a win-win scenario for their situation.

He's now famous for code violations and will likely find himself in jail.  

I didn't win, I was 7500 shy.

This means that if you win, you best make sure your group can commit X million dollars in 30 days in cash.

On another topic, for something like the famous clogged toilet situation, should I be up front and ask the tenant to try to use a plunger himself first before calling me, or is this something I'll have to go in for in case it happens?  

Every time you get a house, its like winning a game. 

I have a feeling from this situation if he were to even go that far, he wouldn't win.

Slow and steady always wins the race.

It is a win-win, in as much as there can be winners from unfortunate events like foreclosure. 

I really like the Famous Four questions at the end where you get great tips on books to read.