Also, there is a website called The White Coat Investor (www.whitecoatinvestor.com) that may be a valuable resource for your dad. 

i do, but i dont like to show them because of the address.the hardwood holds up pretty well. my guy can just screen it and apply another coat of poly and it's good to go. i charge the tenant for messing/scratching it up.

It’s great to hear real-life experiences, without any hype or sugar-coating.

I think it may be time to take that thicker skin and try it on again.  

He never asked for the extension and he's trying to tell us how to do it by just adding granite in the kitchen and skim coating the walls.

Without any sugar coating, can somebody who owns a handfull of multi family units (preferably at least 20 units) tell me the reality of my plan and if I am being WAY too naive with my plan?

I would get a floor grinder and sand down the top coat of the cement.

I asked him to do the least expensive, coated wire types.

It'll start to bubble and peel, and becomes really hard to fix or do over because you have to scrub off the whole coat to get it to look smooth.Also, get a respirator mask, IIRC they're about $40.  

Even if I have to skim coat spots it is less work than going teh drywall route . . . will update as to how it works.