I am currently remodeling two projects in Philadelphia and one in demo now is on Dorrance Street in Point Breeze.

I've got a demo set up with ReboGateway next week and was just looking at the TitleToolBox as well.

If you go the rehab part then you can either hire individual subcontractors and manage the project your self, say hire a handyman to do the demo, and carpenter to do framing and finish work, a drywall contractor to do the drywall and so on.

Appearances have little to do with the product life or the suitability of the materials.All you have to do is look through a lot of threads on this forum to see the kind of poor work and unrepaired damage that is discovered when demo is performed or a second contractor has been called in to fix or finish someone else's work.Cheap materials are the easy way to "save money" on a job.

I have had situations where an overlay makes sense throughout, where a demo and replacement made sense, and where skim coating made sense.

Whether it be electricians, plumbers, flooring, demo, roofers or any other field, thanks!

He is out his investment and the work is being demoed.

You would loose financially big time by 1- she pays no rent and essentially lives for free for a few months. 2- they claim deficiencies in the apartment trying to invalidate and delay your eviction proceedings. 3- she can probably get a pro bono lawyer; you would pay up the ying yang for yours. 4- yes eventually you will win (3-6 months), but she could also leave you with a parting gift of further damaging the unit (and trying to collect on a tenant with a zero net worth is futile.)You seemed to have already caught on to most of what I have said, so your intuition is spot on!  

What demo of distressed sellers get the most results?

Demo will run a bit higher than that.