In order to get licensed in Columbia this needs to be inspected and cleaned every 1/2 years.

That's obviously a bonehead move for a city that needs all the help it can get right now, and we're working hard for a more reasonable solution.

That being said, I've always thought the best way to liquidate houses is to get them vacant, cleaned, painted, repaired and then sell.  

Ripped sheetrock and cleaned suspect areas.

Other funding solutions could be to get partners, hard money lenders or to syndicate. 

How do you justify on how much to give back on the security deposit if they did not clean up when they left

Next time you visit make sure the roofs are good on both structures and clean the gutters.

I do only rental rehabs taking a 1975+ split level 3/2 and just causemetic;  paint, fixtures, flooring, new HVAC, rarely a roof, never windows,  paint the kitchen cabinets with new hardware, clean up baths, just clean up landscaping, fix things beyond replacing all ceiling and plumbing fixtures (except shower valves) and this has grown to $25k is now tight

Naturally there are established areas that are a little nicer, typically a little cleaner, and from what I can tell appreciation wise aren't growing as fast as the up and coming, typically less clean areas.

I looked into paynearme where  you can go to a local store to pay your rent with cash with a small convenience fee but this service no longer provides direct solutions to landlords.