@Anthony BeckemeyerWhile either transaction on it's own may not be a prohibited transaction, looking at both transactions could reveal a more problematic intent.

Inspections reveals some needed work.  

The money spent on them has far greater return then trying to sort out which contractor's system will work for your situation.Taking the stuff out of the basement won't likely reveal the problem any better.

A tiny bit of due diligence would have revealed the situation.  

Be productive by reading legal and business papers (they are full of leads),  review expired listings daily (make offers on all expired listings in your investing area) , call for sale by owners, make offers (use a skinny contract of sale, it is easy to read and understand - one page), run ads in local papers and on the internet, look at houses or commercial properties every day, understand and use an APOD (annual property operating data form), this form will reveal the accurate NOI.

I've used fresh air painters several times in the past.  

Oh yeah; put fresh batteries into the thermostat if they need these.It's a whooole lot easier to do these things when the units are empty than when you get a call in the middle of the night.Gail

@Wendy Kling  go to the rarebird meetings and the REIA there on Shoals Ferry rd in Beverton I think they hold it at a Baja Fresh... lots of beginners at those meetings sprinkled in with experienced folksand watch for BP meetups I hosted one last summer and 60 folks came.. but it was inpromptu so more of a simple networking event.

For my roofing needs, I really only consider 15 year in business minimum, I have gone through several fresh companies and when I test a few days after they install a product, they are surprised and try to deny, then if they try to argue I go after bonds and miraculously they show up.

They will often reveal what their motivating factor(s) are lack thereof are.