Have them blown out and truly winterized by a reputable company.

What works best is sticking one one marketing channel, and keep doing it.You will get the higest intent to sell leads through inbound marketing lead generation such as TV commercials, online form submission leads, direct mail.

I know the reputation Zillow leads have, but I was curious to have a conversation.

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

Yes, most of the reputable lenders have a min loan amount of 65k - 75k with a minimum of 40k - 50k of that amount going toward the purchase.I've been down this road before with a few investors who want to buy cheaper homes and what I can tell you is that - 1) It's not easy and 2) You WILL NOT like the rates, fees, and points.Think about it, what does a lender stand to make on an interest only loan for about 40k. 

Not sure of their reputation, any insight or tips for navigating this process at all are apricated.  

Does anyone have a recommendation for online calculators to map out the breakdown of monthly interest payouts easy?

Any advice on how to source reputable contractors in a specific area?

The graphic is just one I found online.

You could look at the prices online before they are booked.You should get a monthly report after the end of each month.