We had one place that seemed like it was permeated with a bad smell and snaking the main cured the problem. 

this is where it gets bad.   

It's not a bad idea at all.

You might run into an issue if the damage is so bad that it effects the intergrity of the building.

When questioned she claimed her “boyfriend” wrote a bunch of bad checks he stole.

@Tish Saunders I agree with @Alana Coke on the 1 % rule it's the best way to accurately evaluate a good vs a bad deal. 

I personally have had bad luck trying to simply get in touch with the few FSBO properties my clients have tried to look at.

Do not perform either inspection with the tenant present, bad idea. 

Others buy wrong and think that cutting corners will save them money.If you aren’t going to do your best in whatever it is you do, just go work for someone who can manage you and your work.It just makes it harder for the rest of us, especially with municipalities, who have bad experiences and penalize us all.

the Erie county site is pretty bad if that is what you're looking at.