If people want to protect old homes they should not zone the property such that the economics favor tearing them down.

Long term rentals have (5%)less vacancy, lower operating cost, and lower rents Short tern rentals have high vacancy (50%), less wear and tear in the unit, but much higher operating costs. 

Inspectors have to find every little thing wrong with the house for liability purposes and a lot of it is normal wear and tear of a property. 

In San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston; what is the cost to tear down a 1300 sq ft home and rebuild it?

last month there was 2.3 flip home in palo alto, owned by usps worker office :) in sunnyvale a 3BR is selling for one mil only....... dang that's wet dream for the flipper.2 months ago there was a ghetto run-down   house in east palo alto, 200 meters from Ikea, selling for 600k, a tear-down condition, sold for 850k.

Have you asked him whether he will tear down the ceiling fan before moving out or leave it?

It consists of the following:Existing building with 4, One bed apartments and 1100sf commercial, Off street parkingExisting building (tear down, use footprint) with plans and pre approved proposals for a 17 unit, 3 story apartment buildingLot for 18 parking spaces. 

I'd get a 2nd opinion from another plumber/drain tech before tearing everything out, have him try through the tub drains, if unsuccessful, try the vent as Dale suggested.

Probably a silly question and the answer is right under my nose but: how does it work when you purchase a “tear down”.

Perhaps the agent should have talked to the seller (and he may have) and it all could have been avoided and they would have just let him walk away, tear up the contract, hand him his check, and moved on to the next "supposed" offer.