There is hope for anyone who has the willpower to keep getting up, when knocked down and is willing to learn. 

I'd bet a house that the thickness of the stucco on both side of each piece of trim is not identical and most likely will have a raised edge of the color coat that will need to be knocked off once the trim is removed.

I am based in NY and have been doing high end single family knock down rebuilds in Westchester county for the last 7 years. 

We simply do not have enough homes for folks.. and the banks pigeon hole developers gone are the day you can get 40 spec loans and have no cash out of pocket.... this knocked out a lot of folks and leaves the bigger players DR   Lennar and some of our bigger regionals in control of a majority of the new product.

@Karen Bloom - since you are out of town, call Finishing Touches - they will knock the job out very quickly and with very little hassle per my experience.They are somewhere on this site - look for Eddie Miller.Andy

I'm sure it's more expensive than just knocking down a wall.  

Let me know where you are looking and I can find out if any limitations apply :-)It only takes one neighbor to tattletale on you and the next thing ya know the city or county is knocking at your door. :-0

I will start cold knocking and calling.

If, for example, the house is listed at $200,000, could we bid around $160,000 or would that just be knocked back straight away?

If, for example, the house is listed at $200,000, could we bid around $160,000 or would that just be knocked back straight away?