@Kevin Roth, here is a solution for you.

Curious if anybody has ran across this and what their solution was

Can anyone give me suggestions where to start looking for a reputable and reliable contractor who is experienced with investors?

It actually gives you more solutions to offer sellers.  

Be sure to talk to Panzera and Solutions 4 Real Estate.

Do you have inexpensive but reliable contractors you can introduce me to in LA?

(It also sounds like there were no specifics discussed, which makes it harder to say that it was a true “verbal contract”)In this case, your best solution is to talk to the landlord and let him know that you both made mistakes and wanna come to a mutual settlement to put it all in the past and move on amicably.

If anyone has any recommendations on reasonable/ reliable hard money lenders in or near the Delaware area, it would be greatly appreciated.

I realize there is no clear cut solution to this and I ultimately have to be the one to grab the bull by the horns (which I'm doing by absorbing as much real estate related content as possible), but I'm more just curious if anyone else has ever been in a similar situation where you felt like the clock is ticking.

I realize there is no clear cut solution to this and I ultimately have to be the one to grab the bull by the horns (which I'm doing by absorbing as much real estate related content as possible), but I'm more just curious if anyone else has ever been in a similar situation where you felt like the clock is ticking.