Then you can reverse engineer and come up with some options.

LA is so diverse and there is a wide range of finishes (laminate versus engineered hardwood versus refinishing for example) to choose from. 

Buy or inherit and hold all their lives while working the properties for income.I've seen teachers, firemen, software engineers and all sorts of people utilize both strategies successfully.

I am looking for surveyors, engineers, contractors a team that does it all.                                                                                                                 

Talk to to local foundation-friendly engineer and get their two cents ASAP while you're still in your due diligence phase.Good luck!

Why would you bring an engineer to a showing appointment?

There will be soft costs of architects, engineers, etc and of course you will need to cover the debt while there is no incoming revenue.

The time it takes a builder to work with a structures framing and CMU basement that are not plumb, square, true, flat or waterproof is more costly than rebuilding with current building codes and engineering.2) Take the time and cost you think it will be and multiply by 3 and 1.53) contractors will fail you again and again. 

Also ask if they consider importing fill of that depth/volume to be 'grading' which could require a separate permit and a geotechnical engineer oversee the backfill to ensure that it is properly compacted. 

We had to get engineering set for door design, procure lumber via specialty suppliers, then engineer how lift would work.