Check the gutters, downspouts and grade of soil/cement around the house and make sure it's draining properly as a lot of basement moisture issues can be fixed by backfilling and extending your drainage further from the building.

I have a cemented cage around the condenser itself - which probably spared me from losing that as well. 

Covering siding is similar (though usually I see that with insulbrick not the cement version). 

Cement backer board, morter, grout and labor are pretty much independent of the cost of the tile itself, and easily add up to several dollars.

In addition to the original scope I have installed a mailbox post (cemented), trimmed out a door, and repaiered a missing ridge cap over a dormer. $200 worth of work, BUT the goodwill is not worth the money.

You also will need cement backer board for your upstair units.

If the grout itself looks to be in pretty good condition (just dirty) then you have a few choices here...edited to add: if your shower floor leaks its not because of the grout....its because of the lack of membrane underneath the cement board or improperly installed drains...

Ok, I know they say that cat urine is the smell of money :oops: , but how do you remove it when it's in bedded within the cement?

Vinyl OR cement board is a superior siding!!

No, not in this hard as cement ground.