The yard area is completely open and gives no privacy, plus it's just a dirt patch right now with chain-link fence that separates the property line.

find the "best" home warranty company and hope it breaks this summer. they will try to patch it up, but at 40+ years old, i doubt they'd be able to source the parts for it and will have to replace it. 

If they patched and painted to where it's presetable, yet not up to your taste, how do you charge for this?

Treat it, then patch it with Bondo and you are good to go. 

Patching with drywall can be done but over time you will have a noticeable section that is straight compared to the original wavy look of the plaster.

The 80-acre patch in the Mojave Desert with one hotel, one restaurant, five eco-cabins, 10 teepees and an RV park is up for sale...

You might hit a rough patch with high vacancy.  

The surround did not fit through the bathroom door so my husband took out a wall in order to slide the surround in and then patched back up the wall.

Another option (one that will take much, much longer) is if your city has a "See-click-fix" program where you can report bad potholes to be patched / repaired.

Columbus, OH 43223Vacant:YESDate:12/15/2020Bed:2Bath:1.5Sq Ft:896Inspected By:* Additional Mediator/Engineer/Pro Quotes Needed: EXTERIORCategoryY/NRepair Type#UnitCostTotalNotesRoof *Roof (rip and replace) - Dimensional shingle896sf$3.00 $2,688Possible additional Inspections, Quotes or Mediation neededLayover (add a layer of shingles) - architectural shinglesf$2.50 $0Roof repair/patch (hard)ea$1,000.00 $0Roof repair/patch (easy)ea$500.00 $0Fascia - demo & install newlf$3.00 $0Soffit - demo & install new50lf$4.00 $200GuttersGutters & downspouts - demo & install new (Flat Cost)ea$1,500.00 $0Gutters & downspouts - demo & install new (Flat Cost)lf$6.00 $0Gutters - Repair, clean & paint existing1ea$350.00 $350Finish / SidingDemo existing finishing materialsf$0.75 $0Stuccosf$7.00 $0Wood sidingsf$6.00 $0Vinyl siding896sf$3.50 $3,136Fiber cement siding (Hardi board siding)sf$7.00 $0Install New Shuttersea$150.00 Patch an exterior section (MINOR SIDING REPAIR)ls$500.00 $0Patch an exterior section (MAJOR SIDING REPAIR)sf$1.75 $0Power wash exterior 1ea$400.00 $400Power wash entire exterior, including gutters & front porch.MasonryFireplace/chimney, brick/stone - replace existingls$5,000.00 $0Concrete blocksf$6.00 $0Stonesf$18.00 $0Bricksf$11.50 $0Tuckpoint brick chimneyea$300.00 $0PaintingPainting exterior onlysf$1.75 $0Paint trim only896sf$0.50 $448Sand & refinish deck or paint decksf$1.75 $0Paint fencesf$1.00 $0Paint detached garagesf$1.00 $0WindowsWindows, vinyl, average size3ea$300.00 $900Basement Glass Block Windowsea$250.00 $0Window Repair/Replace Glassea$150.00 $0Window Screensea$75.00 $0Exterior DoorsExterior front door - single door w/ hardware & dead bolt1ea$500.00 $500Exterior door (std.) - single door w/ hardware & dead boltea$400.00 $0Exterior Storm Doorea$200.00 $0Exterior sliding glass door - double doorea$650.00 $0Exterior door hardware & dead bolt1ea$50.00 $50EXTERIOR (cont.)CategoryY/NRepair Type#UnitCostTotalGarageGarage Door Only - 1 Car - 9'x7' door, manualea$775.00 $0Garage Door Only - 2 Car - 16' door, manualea$1,200.00 $0Garage Door Opener Installedea$300.00 $0Reroof detached garage (rip & replace)sf$4.00 $0Build new detached garage - 1-CARea$14,000.00 $0Build new detached garage - 2-CARea$16,000.00 $0LandscapingFull landscaping makeover large lotls$5,000.00 $0Full landscaping makeover medium lotls$3,000.00 $0Full landscaping makeover small lot1ls$2,000.00 $2,000A lot of backfill topsoil needed around the entire foundation/property.