If they refuse that, maybe they'll agree to an escrow holdback for a period of time (say 6 month to a few years), of some of their net proceeds from the sale, in case the stucco completely falls off 10% of the exterior square footage (or some other objective measure).

Would love the chance to discuss/analyze numbers from objective 3rd party like yourself if you're up for it.

You get an objective third party to check progress.

If you have a licensed property manager, at least you could claim that you acted according to sound business and legal principles and should therefore be somewhat or totally shielded from liability, or insist that the other person's liability insurance pay for it. 

As Matt indicated, do not really have enough info to provide suggestions as we are not sure what your goals/objectives are. 

Sometimes the biggest hangup for people to get started is the shiny object syndrome.

I added some general property maintenance obligations,  such as keep and maintain the exterior of the dwelling, garage, all out buildings and component parts thereof clean and free of all foreign objects and substances, keep and maintain the driveway, sidewalks, walkways, porches, patios, garage floor and other surface areas clean and free of all foreign objects and substances, keep and maintain the roofs, gutters and downspouts clean and free of all foreign objects and substances, keep and maintain all plots of ground prepared for plants, including the plants grown in such plots, in an orderly, attractive, and healthy condition, keep and maintain all garage door remote controllers in good working order and, at the end of the lease, return all garage door remote controllers to Landlord, and supply and change the refrigerator water filter cartridge, if any, at least every six months or sooner if prompted to do so by the filter change indicator light on the refrigerator. 

I would be abroad for most of the year so I’d need someone to manage the rentals for me as well.At the moment vacation home to stay in instead of paying for hotels is the main objective. 

Yes the principle and interest numbers were extremely low.  

Are you going to meet your objectives?