There’s also this little ‘angel’ on my shoulder whom whispers, “hard money has 30-year terms now... and you’re already approved!”

Knowing that Call Porter is there to answer the calls for me is taking a load of stress off my shoulders. 

I like the idea that they take some of the work off of my shoulders on calling previous landlords and employers.

One option that I've recommended in the past is to hire a contractor (which will take more money) but tell them you want to learn the process and understand construction better. 8/10 contractors will be fine with that as they're used to homeowners looking over their shoulder anyway.

I get it how most think they gotta do things close to home, but this is extreme liability that local market throws on your shoulders and fact is it doesn't need to be like that, you have options, they may be unfamiliar but wasn't being a landlord once too. 

Or the builder may build without a permit, or in the wrong place, or mess up any number of things that then fall on your shoulders.

They will be looking for their money every month, but not be looking over you shoulder telling you what to do.

CAN (and WILL) get stuck in mud ruts, soft shoulders, etc.  

I was told by an inspector years ago that is the equivilant of people standing shoulder to shoulder on the whole deck. 

Each entrance will have brome grass seeded and grass matapplied to the shoulders and ditch areas.