It seems they check for visual, electrical, moisture, mold and gas.If it really is that simple than soft inspections can be done much cheaper and faster and more often by a trusted but non - certified joint venture partner.While I'm in the area I can do a demographic, a title, and a infrastructure forecast search.

theyre a bit of math but also visual they really helped me get the big picture when i had no idea where to start, and give real life experiences and examples, plus theyre good to listen to while youre sitting in traffic hah!

A lot of people make it seem like this:1) see obnoxiously grassy lawn2) knock on door3) see a visually distressed owner4) ask if they want to sell their home5) they say yes6) get them to sign a contract for me to acquire their home for 30% off the value7) pitch to buyers8) sign contract to buyer.9) send docs to title company10) receive cheque...and BALL OUT/ReInvest lolI feel like this is partly true but maybe missing a step or two.

This property has not been updated much at all so there are no visual signs of flooding and the seller said that it hasn't ever flooded ( his parents owned the property since 1970 but was built in 1965).

It make visualization much easier and seeing  success is so important.  

I am willing to go out of state...though I liked the thought of being a day's drive from a visual inspection.

I find that in any interaction with bankers, it helps me to visualize them as a robot that speaks a different language than me--numbers.

-Also a practicing visual artist / sculptor (www.kentcaldwell.com)-Moved to Vegas in 2012, bought a home in 2012 and 2014 when property was cheap!

You can build a Small knee wall to conceal the side of the range and provide a visual termination point for the kitchen.

It’s also in a city I know very little about (Norfolk, VA) here are the numbers- I welcome your thoughts/ insights:$259k - sales Price (4- unit building fully occupied)$1460- total mortgage payment (after 25%) down $305- Property Management Feee (10%)$105- trash (total water is $315 p/m but seller bills water to tenants and has it written in the lease)$60 - lawn careTotal rents are $3050Owner says monthly expenses are low.The best case scenario is net income of $737 assuming $400 extra monthly expenses (for worse case scenario unexpected expenses which always come up) and assuming all the tenants pay their rent.Positives- - Seems to be a good cash flow if expenses are kept low and everybody pays- 4-plex is located in an 85% residential area- building is ok condition (built in late 70’s) except roof is 18 yrs old- all tenants are gainfully employedConcerns- while the neighborhood visually looked fine, according to crimemapping.com its a moderately high crime area.