Use your skills to network with local investors and professionals by attending meetups in the Conroe and Houston area, joining online forums, and connecting with property managers or realtors.

You will have to have a professional estimate done.

We are seeking joint venture opportunities with experienced developers who can see the value in this project and help us navigate these challenging times.As partners based in NYC, this venture was beyond our usual real estate development experience.

I’d really appreciate some guidance from experienced landlords or anyone familiar with the process.

Painting, for instance- an amatuer could take their time and paint a house over the course of a couple weeks and do a great job, but a professional crew could do the entire job in a day. 

Gradually scale by researching high-growth markets, partnering with experienced investors, and exploring financing options like SBA loans.

Your clients should focus on properties with significant equity potential and work with experienced contractors to stay within budget and timeline—especially with borrowed funds on the line.Avoiding Bad Deals - Encourage them to work with experienced agents, contractors, or mentors and always run multiple scenarios, including worst-case outcomes, to stress-test their numbers.Reserves - Advise your clients to keep a reserve fund separate from their loan for emergencies, unexpected expenses, or delays.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Residential conversions are costly, so working with an experienced architect and contractor specializing in adaptive reuse is critical.

I think the OP is lucky not to have experienced catastrophic failure yet.