I would totally be fine with fixed price if all the work were isolated to a single discreet project.

I would be surprised if the state can force your parents into 'not replacing' an existing bridge which would isolate them from public access.  

It took me 2 months, too many VA's, and complete isolation but I did it.

@David WeintraubHi David.Yeah, the real problem with Rent Control/Stabilization in NYC and elsewhere is more of a psychological one.The regulated renters kind of lives in this isolated environment and has a connection with the value of their apt although it isn't necessarily their property.

@Omar Khan2) Overlay Top down Market data on top to figure out pricing/valuation (we follow major publications aka RCA Insights ) Whats on the chart:1) Cap rate for MF (Class A/B aka Lifestyle) is lowest ...indication of competition2) Pricing trend by year and then within major cities .. indication of possible downturn or isolation of submarket 3) (dont have it here) MF price index doubled in past 10 Yrs.... indication is that market pulled all operators including both good and bad @Ivan barrett Hypothesis:1) There will be opportunities within MF to get a higher cap rate where Operator will need to exit due to operational/Debt performance... most probable case to compete with other existing good operators /indicators 2) Properties that will pass a stress test valuation with scenario where a downturn will happen aka vacancy will do up  and rent growth isnt possible for a duration of 2-4 yrs.It takes a bit opposite position to Recent post from https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/432/topics/687483-unprecedented-structural-shift-the-thriving-multifamily-marketAnd supports https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/432/topics/683154-bullish-on-multifamily  

The next year I found a farm 40 acres, and bought it for $2500 down and 20 year contract.My plan was to build on the farm but it was very isolated and my wife was not happy about that.

Having said that, in the Coventry Road, Superior Road, Mayfield Road triangle, because it has the cemetery on one side and the Forest Hill park on the other, it is somewhat isolated from East Cleveland and more influenced by Cleveland Heights.

It is hard to fathom how bad things can get because we're so privileged to live in a country that is so isolated.

Is it just one (isolated) home owned by this group, or is this an area/neighborhood where other houses and land are owned by them?

Very, very isolated, rural, small town, farming community with low/nil violence where everyone knows everyone.