Don't expect PM's to repeatedly chase down third and four bids (burning out their vendor relationships) and then expect that they will be construction managers as well.

If I had no monthly regular income in the pipe line, I will not try to get me burned with more debts.

I buy from neighboring towns he does not invest in and get the properties low enough it makes sense to take the risk on buying without inside access or utility on.If you assume its paint and polish, you will get burned. 

It sounds like he got burned on his first SFH and that made him stay away from them.My real estate agent suggested a refinance as well, which sounds like an ideal option. 

The difference being that the buyer's policy does not cover total replacement if the house burns down and it essentially just covers your investment in the house. 

But if you have a bunch of money burning a whole in your pocket and you just want to hit the easy button, I think it probably would be worth it to join that training program.

As this is my very first time doing anything like this, I would rather be a bit cautious, over build, and perhaps reduce my margin slightly than try to do this on the cheap, and maximize profit, only to get burned by the rental business and have to deal with the headache of doing this all over again in less than a year or two.

Addressing the problems is like trying to put out small individual fires in a forest that is burning.

If not hardie board, what could I use that wouldn't burn or catch fire?

Burned-out homes, more renters than home owners, windowless cars parked on lawns - and not at all far from the "good" areas.