Quote from @Jaron Walling: @Erik Dofelmier Did you find qualified tenants yet? 

Although very few can implement it.. again back to the Car salesmen just look up on the wall for the pictures of salesmen of the month or year.. thats the guys/gals that know how to take control qualify and close.

I just stop reading walls of text.

The rare Greek revial style of the home with 16 inch thick concrete and brick walls makes this a fortress.

The other tenants are very loud and the walls are thin.

Are you in a density neighborhood with adjoining lot walls, risk of adjoining property damage ie rowhouse etc?

The contractor will have to take down an exterior wall when they begin framing making the master bedroom inhabitable.

We will be taking out a wall to open up the floor plan and I don't want to be exposing anyone to lead dust, but I'm not sure a test is necessary if the materials are being removed regardless?

I could move the water and gas line (for the water heater) to the other side of the wall which is the garage.

If they’re saying new one won’t fit in house and tankless is not an option for the space, couldn’t they just add an attached closet/storage shed near current placement, install electric water heater and run new lines through the connecting wall?