If the took a bat to the place have you checked the plumbing to make sure they didn't do the ol cement in the drains trick?

Is it better to grind out all the caulk, repoint and seal it or just apply a thin coat of surface bonding cement to the entire chimney and seal it twice with a drylock masonry sealer?

Maybe dig up the outside of this corner and waterproof, then clean up the interior and seal any cracks with hydraulic cement or the like.Thanks! 

This project also needed the crawls space to be completely redone; new drain tile and sump pump system, foundation repair, encapsulation, rim joists and floor joist, 14 new supports with cement footings, plus the duct work, electrical, plumbing, and main drain lines... easily about $25k to contract out... my cost was about $2,200.Sometimes I say, " I save more money than I make".  

FUN TIMES fixing that, cutting cement, reconnecting and back filling dirt and pea stones under the pipe.

If you need it higher than that install a small piece of cement board under the sill.

Based on the above, debating whether vinyl siding is appropriate vs. fiber cement, etc..

Made progress, but still more to come. 3 gallons are being delivered today.The new cement patio has been poured.

Then get some fast setting  hydraulic cement and mix it up a bit wet and fill the bag .

We decieded that we needed to give the future tenants a backyard so we had to pay an excavator to dig out the yard and build a railroad ties retaining wall and pull off the 2 decks and replace them with cement patios and put a fence there to give each tenant a private patio area and that cost at least an extra $4,500?.