Avoid $20k Repair Nightmares - My Inspection Red Flags.

Module 5: Due Diligence Deep Dive, Lessons 1-3.

Key Lessons: In-person tours (roof/furnace checks); Rent Rolls/Leases/Liabilities; Following Through

Bonuses: Tour Guide Checklist + Request Email

Hey, it’s Seth - I once walked into a “perfect” duplex on Zillow, huge potential ROI’s in the calculator…
30 seconds later I found a $28k foundation nightmare that TANKED the ROI and I walked away.


Today you’re getting my exact 10-minute tour guide checklist that has saved me over $150k in disasters.

NEVER BUY BLIND - TOUR LIKE A PRO

BONUS: Your Tour Guide Checklist (phone out, flashlight ready)

  • Roof
    Red flag → curling shingles, dark patches, 25+ years old
    Green → under 20 years, clean edges

  • Furnace
    Red flag → 20+ years old, rust, weird noises, dirty filter
    Green → under 15 years, clean, humming nicely

  • Water Heater
    Red flag → 12+ years, rust at base, leaking
    Green → under 10 years, no rust

  • Foundation / Basement
    Red flag → horizontal cracks > ⅛", bowing walls, water stains, musty smell
    Green → only hairline vertical cracks

  • Windows
    Red flag → single-pane, fog between panes, broken seals
    Green → double-pane, open/close smooth

  • Plumbing
    Red flag → slow drains, brown water, low pressure
    Green → strong pressure, clear water

  • Electrical
    Red flag → knob-and-tube wiring, open junctions, flickering lights
    Green → 100+ amp panel, GFCIs in wet areas

  • Smells
    Red flag → mold, heavy pet, cigarette, sewer
    Green → fresh or normal

  • Neighboring units / tenants
    Red flag → hoarder piles, loud music, junk everywhere
    Green → clean, quiet, normal

  • Street vibe
    Red flag → cars on blocks, bars on windows, trash everywhere
    Green → well-kept, kids playing, pride of ownership

My rule:
One single red flag that the owners wont fix = walk away. Keep the notes from the tour and ask for repairs in the offer (I will cover this in Module 6)
I also killed a $189k duplex because the roof was 28 years old and the owner wouldn’t send credit or reduce price - saved myself $20k instantly.

ACTION #1 - DO THIS WEEK

  • Use the Bonus: Tour Guide Checklist

  • Tour 5 duplexes this week that you’ve run the numbers on - checklist open, flashlight on

    • Kill 4 → the 5th that survives is your winner

Never fall in love until the checklist says yes.

Next lesson: its all about verification.


See you in Lesson 2!

BOOK FREE 15 MIN Strategy call
ROADMAP Checklist (Download)
RENTAL CALCULATOR (DOWNLOAD)