Most have left due to personal reasons and claim it's nothing to do with the house.

Second, there is a limit to how much it will pay per claim and per annum. 

While you may be able to get away with not informing the county about the change in residency status, most of the legal residence application processes in SC counties to change your assessment ratio from 6% to 4% will require you to disclose if you currently claim this status elsewhere.

Are there specific conditions that are required to claim a loss for my wife since she worked on rental properties?

The product claims to be made with a high contents of recycled material.

I've already admitted I'm not a CPA, nor would I even claim to understand everything I've been told about taxes, since some of the information is contradictory.

Otherwise, the criminal case can serve as evidence in suing them in small claims court. 

I hired a company to complete the renovations and a public adjustor to help with my insurance claim. 

Her insurance put her up in a hotel for a while, and I filed a claim with them (it was her fault due to negligence, she left food in a pot on the stove ON and left for hours).

While demolition costs are nondeductible, a taxpayer may claim a loss deduction when the depreciable business property is retired from use in a trade or business or from use in the production of income.I would strongly advice talking with a real estate focused accountant here to help guide you.