I pay the cost of the permits.To demo the whole house - $3,000 plus I pay for the dumpsters.New Roof - $3,000 Waterproof basement - busted up concrete and installed french drain system  fed into sump pump (kept existing sump pump) and water seal paint the inside (no outside work) $5,000.Frame whole house - $3,000 (basically basement and main level.. upstairs didn't really change)Drywall - delivered, hung, and finished - $32 per sheet he estimates 120 sheets needed ($3,840 total)Insulate all walls and attic - $1500(*) Rough electrical including permits,new panel & wire - $4000  (outlets, switches, cans, fixtures, etc. additional)(*) New duct work - $4,000 ... seems fairly simple with the house demo'd and being such a small house. 

Their vision was to have a farmhouse/french country like kitchen in their new home and value of course.

That's a fancy French term for a very simple concept -- the landlord getting rid of the property can be expected to lie or misrepresent what the rents are, what security deposits s/he's holding, what the terms of each rental contract is, etc.

We just spend nearly $50K in rehab which included a new breaker box, remodeled both bathrooms, retiled kitchen floor, retiled screened in porch floor, replaced cast iron plumbing with PEX and put in a french drain. 

My Story...I am an Irish - French Canadian immigrant son from Arlington, MA, Mom from So Weymouth, Dad from inner city Irish Dorchester.He used to tell me of the Irish gangs in the 40s and and 50s, before it is now.He showed me a photo, black and white, on a bar NO DOGS OR IRISH ALLOWED.He broke out of that by getting to med school. 

My realtor says to use an industrial dehumidifier, but the waterproofing company says it needs french drain and concrete floor with waterproof wall covers.

I have done some research on french drains and channel drains, but I am not sure if they would be viable fixes in this case.

If we proceed this route, I may try to open up the space more between living and dining with french doors or similar.That said, I don't really like entering sideways at the front porch.  

I put glass, multi pane french doors on them. 

$370k here would warrant a french door-style fridge for sure, and likely a gas range of some kind.