The exterior walls are brick with yellow insulation and covered in plastic moisture barrier.

Then, along came Wilsonart and suddenly the atomic ranch exploded into a whole sea of new building materials... formica, plastics, Congoleum, Vinyl, and so on.

As you can see, my total cost for all these surgeries was a fraction of what I would have paid in premiums over the years! 

All services have a fair value, from digging a ditch to doing brain surgery, it's not about an opinion with justifications. :)  

She literally tore out the old plastic fridge feed.

For example: there can be no plastic pipe in plumbing, the walls between units must meet certain specifics to be a firewall, if it is forced air each unit will need its own furnace as units cannot share a return air duct, etc.  

Slightly more valuable properties I prefer to rent for less and save the expensive updates for just before selling because that price range buyer is more sensitive to what is in style...beige granite now dated in favor of grayer quartz whereas low end is thrilled with any solid surface over plastic laminate.

If dirt--you'll need to install vapor barrier (heavy plastic) and gravel over that, then possibly some type of flooring.Is it a stone/rubble foundation? 

Is a highly skilled ice sculptor going to use a children's plastic pumpkin carving tool?

They travel with all their belongings in a big plastic storage container.