They came out 2 days later for an inspection and I thought for sure they would get me on repairs because the prior tenants had a dog and the house reaked of dog smell, they also had a bunch of kids so the walls had finger prints all over and there were some holes in the exterior vinyl siding.

I was doing a gut rehab and since we were doing the outside, I had to comply with regulations for siding and had to use hardy (couldn't' use vinyl).

If it's more than a 4-5 inch drop it's likely to split the PVC plumbing under the house requiring your foundation guys and plumber to tunnel under the structure to fix the plumbing.  

(Vinyl, Aluminum, Wood) _________________ Is there a porch?

Must be 1990 or newer with vinyl siding and a shingled roof. 

You brought up about bad inventory and specifics about PVC or other plastics, the colorants and their lack of value due to specific product manufacturing.

Don't forget that vinyl siding is easily removed and reinstalled using a tool like the one shown.