Just like you I have been thinking into mentorship programs and I have gone to Multifamily Mindset ($40K), Apartment Educators ($20K) which is based in Texas, and now I am looking into RE Mentor (mentor of co-founder of Multifamily Mindset) and it's a 3 day seminar for $1500 (but they end up giving you a *one time discount* if you sign up during the free 2 hour event for $995 but it is possible to sign up for their mentorship program through their website if you can't go to their free event).

You could always keep that as an option, but I'd look to do a straight-up sale.

Even meeting in person, they can act like a straight up investor until they hook you in and take your money. 

Multiple stipulations to qualifying but if one does their due diligence, it’s fairly straight forward.

I'll just be honest...you're in a very difficult spot and there isn't going to be a straight forward or easy way to recover your funds or get the work completed. 

Some water companies will reduce the bill if it is due to a leak, but the fact that the tenant waited three billing cycles to say anything means they may not get much of a discount.

We went way over our expected budget - by far our worse budget miss ever (remarkably we were only 0.5 week over our 2 month timeline).Using my rule, take the estimates and double them then add for lost occupancy and that is what I would be seeking or the owner have the work done using licensed contractors and do the work, take the risks, and suffer the vacancy costs.If you purchase having to do the work and your appraisal can handle it, the credit at closing is superior to price discount.  

@Daniel Cullen - we just recorded a Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast with an investor who did his first househack in Blue Island.

They buy at deep discounts and have economies of Scale to be able to wait out the time when Homes Prices and Rent Prices must rise eventually.It's a lose-lose for Mom and Pop but a Win-Win for Big Money Landlords.It's the complete opposite of what the Liberal's intentions wanted and they will fall into self-delusion that it's a Conspiracy of the Rich.

Discount agents come with different levels of service and you can  figure out what level you need.