If they are unwilling to fix these issues, I would walk away and look for another company there to work with.Best of luck to you 

I agree with @Michael Ealy, the best way to ramp up, safely, is to partner with other syndicators who lack the skills that you have.

Someone with basic woodworking skills should be able to modify the existing opening to allow for a larger slide-in stove.

If these properties are just investments and he is worried that his children do not have the expertise or skill to manage it, sometimes you can create a family trust and hire a trustee to run the properties.

I have more of the entrepreneur spirit than the spouse, but he has the brawn and skills.

I'm not sure if getting into debt is the best place to start, esp since we don't know your skill level. 

If it were me I would want to structured my transaction in a way that reflects a suitable discount for that risk and release of funds Commensurate with that risk.While there is money to be made by taking on the risk if you are uncomfortable or unwilling to except that level of risk here’s another plan:While there is money to be made by taking on risk if you are uncomfortable or unwilling to except that level of risk here’s another plan:consider advancing the defaulted property taxes to illuminate the pending time issue so that you can properly go through the court system and have an attorney File a petition for spousal order.

People skills takes having that inner desire to actually want to help people, and unfortunately, many people don't have that set of skills.

My wife and I have house hacked a duplex the last 10 years and have 'excellent' project/vendor management skills but don't know much about construction.

As you stated you are going to be unwilling to drive as hard a bargain as you otherwise would.