If you were told that you wouldn't need a permit and that false guidance alone has prolonged this a year, that's the foundation that I would build the other items on and strongly push for them to take it back and release the escrowed funds.

Also has knob and tune in the basement and maybe something with the foundation not sure because there is water that leaks down there.

@Brynton Lemar @Thomas Johnson Congrats to you both for building your financial foundations and thinking beyond your sports.

First make sure your gutters aren't clogged and your drains have extenders that route the water away from the foundations.

You could sue them and try to force it (I don't know how your city/state handles this).Lots of options but you definitely want to do something before the water gets inside or causes foundation problems.

We've been waiting for an opportune time to get into real estate investing and have done a good amount of education and focused on building a solid foundation. 

Is he suggesting the grading issue is causing the foundation to shift, thus damaging either the supply line or drainage?

But, if you cover some foundational concepts of picking contractors, you should be able to get a pool of contractors qualified to bid your project, and from there make your pick based on price/gut feeling. 

Then the hardest part came; I had to cut a hole though the 4" Concrete foundation slab to access the plumbing underneath.

In some cases the foundation may need to be cracked open and repoured.