Demo estimate is $8-10k, back taxes due are $4k.

Same with house flippers who may need an extra hand doing some demo or landscaping or whatever it may be.

See if you can tag along on a few projects to learn (tell them you'll help demo, paint, etc. for the learning experience).  

I was thinking to get your own demo crew and have them begin right away.

@James Yang that's a great idea, but I'm not sure it'll work for this couple.

If I plan to purchase the property as is, demo all the structures on the land, and rebuild, will a big bank help, in terms of lending, on the purchase + demo + rebuild costs? 

Typically the least you have to do is cap the fireplace chimney to make it weather proof/animal proof, then it's the structure/cosmetics of the room it's in, how much do you need to demo in order to drywall over it to make it disappear.

@Nhia Yang, have you spoken with a commercial lender?

I did all the demo, tile work (never doing again), install cabinets and hardware, (they were new box cabinets from a wholesale cabinet company), installed finish plumbing, installed appliances, pressure washing of fence, drives, basement walls, framing of washer/dryer walls and a lot of minor things along the way.

And here is a rough breakdown of the repairs (I noted the items where we supplied the labor):Demo: $500Attic finishing (rough carpentry, insulation, drywall, trim): $4,500Plumbing (move bath vanity; new fixtures in bath & kitchen): $1,050Electric (move range outlet; remove old fuses; replace all switches, outlets & fixtures): $750Wallpaper removal & paint throughout (material cost only - our labor): $600Kitchen cabinetry & countertops (replaced w/ used cabs from Craigslist & reclaimed soapstone counters; material cost only - our labor): $850Appliances (new refrigerator; used range): $500Interior doors & hardware: $500Flooring (vinyl floors in attic & kitchen; material cost only - our labor): $1,500Windows: $1,600Asbestos duct removal: $500Misc. carpentry (trim repair; closet shelving, etc; material cost only - our labor): $300Exterior work (gravel; landscaping; paint; material cost only - our labor): $350Utilities: $200Misc: $500TOTAL: $14,200