I'd recommend speaking with Michael Klein at Savvy Realty.

You'll need to speak to the building department anyway for permits, so start there with respect to the variance.I'm sorry to say @Jon Pflueger, this is not going to fly.

Speak with Andrew Weiner at Realty Now Property Management. 

Hello, I have purchased 4 different asset manager lists over the past two years, but three were ineffective with outdated information and many email bounce-backs or returned mail.The best list I found was at RealEstateTargetdotcom; I did a successful snail mail and email campaign, and picked up three new banks and an account with LPS.I also cross referenced names on the list to see who was attending or speaking at various REO conferences, and made efforts to meet asset managers in person.

The PM has a good reason to place a quality renter.

And I'm speaking as a Contractor....

If you just hire the cheapest or first PMC you speak with and it turns into a bad experience, please don’t assume ALL PMC’s are bad and start trashing PMC’s in general.

@Jordan G. if you're not putting any bedrooms down there, generally speaking you should be allowed to finish a basement.

I definitely recommend that you seek out a Certified Cost Segregation Professional so that you are confident in the quality of the work performed and the deliverables produced.

I hope you learn from this and hire a quality PM for the next time.I would try two things, simultaneously:1.