I love wholesalers because most don't want to touch short sales and refer to me for a fee.

Touche Tim.I guess that is why I'm not a lawyer.

Without bringing an actual contractor or inspector with me, how will I know if what I see are actually problems that need replacing or touch ups?

:the thing you have to remember is that the installation is much more expensive when you are replacing the alum/steel windows compared to a vinyl replacement.with vinyl replacement, the wooden frame, the sill, the wood trim inside, and the vinyl trim on the outside are already there....so, you just have to pop out the stop and screw down the new window.with steel/alum window going to vinyl, you need all those things mentioned above. they have to "break" (term used to bend the alum trim) the trim, secure it, caulk it, etc, etc.. so labor and parts are much more.I have crews that install vinyl replacements all the time and we never touch the frame if it's aluminum.

Make no mistake, no matter what you are trying to sell, you need to make as many "touches" as possible.

For instance, the 2nd market for it is gone, hence lending for a retail buyer is vastly different, nearly no conventional lender who lends in stick built will touch them, unless they can meet FHA, and to do so there are many special caveats, like the home MUST be attached to lot AND have been located by the manufacturer with documentation to show, or else no FHA and no conventional lending, which means 95% of retail buyers must receive portfolio lending.

You should tell you friend to get in touch with someone that specializes in short sale facilitation.

Now that I have these names who do I contact and how do I get in touch with them?

The only person authorized to open up a home like that is the current owner or someone acting on their behalf (like an agent for instance).Find out who the owner is and request access.As for the situation, I personally wopuld not touch it unless I could buy both boarded up homes at one time.

But there is a way to make money here...Find an agent who knows how to do short sales, put the seller in touch with that agent, and then submit an offer as soon as the agent lists the property.