I certainly wouldn't remove functioning equipment.

Like @Charlie Cameron alluded to, some of the best equipped properties come at high HOA expenses.As an example, if I bought a condo for $350K, I would want the condo to generate $42,000 for it to be considered (1% of purchase price times 12 months). 

The build, determining the need/demographics and business plan, equipment, floor plan, codes, etc.

If you had a very expensive piece of income producing equipment like a piece of farm equipment, wouldn't you at least want to keep it maintained and preserved so as to maximize it's productive life, particularly if other people were paying to use it?  

Managing your own properties is an efficient way to equip yourself with those metrics.

I'm really looking to start fresh, equipped with a more thorough plan.

Driveways, fences, lighting, security systems, hvac, furnishings, office equipment, shelving, equipment, etc.  

As mentioned, its a JV project with the owner vending in his equity.

.- Buy supplies and equipment - start a venture to provide clean-out of severly distressed (trashed) properties.

He says that his son acquired his useful hearing aid (after another didn't work...and he claims the doctor says he hasn't the physical equipment to hear anything at all in the first place) by some magical manifestation of his son's DESIRE to do so, and not any mention at all that maybe others were familiar with his problem and a network of connections makes solutions much more available.He either makes up other stories or passes them along uncritically. 1937 was a different time so I'm not going to hit him with the racist card, but the "Chinaman" story?