Sounds like everyone is singing the same song, LOL.Tell them Eat My Shorts.

I have owned investment properties for going on 5 years, currently own 18 units, and I have never encountered an issue that amounts to more than a few hundred dollars to repair or replace.  

I've been Self-Storage Manager for going on 6 years now and my goal is to own a Self-Storage facility and need to find someone that will come in with me to purchase a Self-Storage and make it a SUCCESS!

Your first step should be trying to prove that your idea is something that people are willing to pay money for (go read The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick).

I have spoken to a couple lenders about this, but I wasn't sure that forgoing the best interest rate with a conventional loan was worth it to get out of the HML quicker since the interest rate will stay with me as I hold and rent the property for the long term.  

For a permanent solution, replacing the bottom couple feet of wall and the baseboards would eliminate the source.As for going after the real estate agent.. that's never going to work.

Forgoing that, you must charge late fees on the date stated in the lease.

After negotiations we agreed on $404K, I was kicking myself for going above $400 when I thought it was worth $389 but it meet the 1% rule and my realtor said it would take this much. 

As a cost-saving measure, the GC may choose to forgo hiring a structural engineer and deal directly with carpenters.Siding replacement is another project that does not seem to require GC involvement.  

I was hoping I could get some best practices for going about renting this room and screening potential tenants.1.