As the seller I would pay for the energy audit, do the analysis on the work to be done (cost vs savings) and then market the home with a prepackaged improvement contract that would meet lender guidelines (solar, EE windows, etc). 45 day close to allow for enough time to do loan and obtain permits, occupancy COE+2. 

You need to be comfortable that the value of the real estate you report to the custodian will pass an IRS audit. 

This also reduces the risk of mingling funds, which is important for both clarity and legal reasons, especially if you decide to form an LLC in the future.Potential Issues with Personal Checking Accounts:Audits: Using personal accounts can complicate things during audits.

When it comes to audit-sensitive areas like STR and REPS, I think the best bang for your buck is to pay someone to do it for you who has been doing it for years. 

The barrier is the additional complexity - now you are operating two sets of books, and filing two tax returns, and have more operating agreements, more state registrations, etc, need to manage cash better, need to keep in constant mind that your rents need to be a supportable FMV, which may require getting third party certification on your rents so that in the event of an IRS audit, what you have done is supported.In short...the size of the project, and the taxable income, need to be of enough scope to make all the additional costs and annoyances worth it. 

They can mess things up and report things incorrectly which can lead to an audit.

They didn't make money on their monthly cash flow if we were to audit it-- they made it on the realized value in that 20-22 time frame. 

Not having your Operating Agreement could be disastrous if ever sued or audited.

Qualified home energy raters/assessors must be trained and certified as one of the following:Building Performance Institute Building Analyst ProfessionalBuilding Performance Institute Home Energy Professional Energy AuditorResidential Energy Services Network Home Energy Rater; orenergy rater, assessor or auditor who meets local or state jurisdictional requirements for conducting residential energy audits or assessments, including training, certification, licensure, and insurance requirements.How Much of an Energy Package can Be Financed?

Yearly audited financials