Readers should seek professional advice.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

They did not communicate the scope well to the plumber, who it sounds like should not have been involved in the first place I would have a point-blank conversation about the above with your manager and ask who he or she thinks should cover the waste of paying multiple professionals to shuffle a thin plastic piece underneath an appliance the tenant was responsible for installing in the first place.

Overall I would recommend talking to other investors or professionals  familiar with the strategy and having a solid system for tracking material participation.  

Quote from @Audrey Scott: My professional advice is to develop a clear repayment strategy to ensure timely payments and avoid potential financial strain. 

I'm a project manager that serves as a general contractor for real estate professionals.

In 2017, we want to try to qualify my husband as a Real Estate Professional.

When your tax professional prepares your 990t they will utilize the Cost Seg to minimize the UDFI tax. 

Also, targeting traveling professionals or insurance clients for mid-term stays can sometimes yield higher rates than typical monthly renters.

Something to consider is that you mentioned you had a day job so I’m assuming you’re not a real estate professional.