I'm not an STR owner, but a customer.

They are expected to do sales, customer service, management, accounting, marketing, people management, etc. and be paid what you would pay, in any other business, for just one of those positions.

Even when pressed for customized tax planning advice, he could or would not deliver.

The contractor usually provides the customer with a contract 

If you have any lenders for HELOC please let me know 😊 Also, another point Lower mentioned was they provide $0 closing costs on future refis as a customer. 

I have never used 1800Accountant, but I have successfully converted their former customers to my practice.They are incredibly expensive, my clients were never sure about what was going on, and they unnecessarily complicated reporting and transaction in order to (in my opinion) make it seem like the clients were getting value for their money.  

If you hire a big name brand builder you main have to pay more on overhead (project manager, superintendent, heavy equipment and machines) and their profit versus if you hire a small builder, the overhead could be almost nothing, and lastly, if you are a good investor/customer, you maybe able to get a better deal (a builder is willing to build the house for less profit).

Personally we can start before the 6 month date but I have heard multiple customers tell me other lenders have said they cannot start the application until the 6 month date. 

My recommendation is to figure out what's most important to you as a customer.

It's far easier to get repeat business from a prior customer than new business from a stranger.