(both initially and after investing, such as if you are required to handle any sort of administrative or physical maintenance).2.

Maybe a nanny cam of some sort on the water meter box?  

@Itay Heled, in my part of Pennsylvania most municipalities have this sort of requirement as part of their rental ordinance.

It's pretty common to do this if you are buying something at auction or with a seller who is not allowing any windows for financing of any sort. 

The Buyer has no skin in the gameIf someone is approaching you to buy your house without a mortgage or conventional financing and are tying you into a long-term contract they better have some sort of collateral that they're putting up.

But, if you are in some sort of discussion with your potential JV partner, why not just ask him/her to explain it to you?

Then I called my agent and explained that I had never given permission to sign over her quote to anyone else and that I could send her anything in writing and would prefer to go with her quote.Escrow happened to be delayed for other reasons, so I have some wiggle room in trying to sort this out.

Is there some sort of solution where I can keep the old railing in place and make it safer without breaking the bank?

I have to give a big thank you to @Gerry Cohen for sort of being the first to stand up and say no, I'm not going to be quiet even if it costs me. 

They are great projects but they do come with all sorts of strings attached.