I thought basis would be safest so I will go that route.

You might be able to go this route if your lease says something to that effect.Without lease support, you can write them a letter informing them they are in violation of the terms of their lease due to the lack of proof of insurance.

As someone fascinated by the intersection of housing, technology, and fairness, I couldn’t ignore the Justice Department’s latest lawsuit against six of the largest landlords in the country.

Best Route.

Funny enough, though, I just received said email, but it's more eluding to the fact that's the route they may attempt to take.What's interesting is that I sent them the referral agreement with my signature and subsequently wired the money.

Part of me thinks this is the lower conflict route but part of me thinks the cats will do way more in damages than the $1,600 I would get in pet fees over four months.

Then again, curb appeal doesn't matter as much in the inner-city parts of my market - more so in the suburbs.Lastly, if a property is newly built/renovated, 'neutral' may not be the best route.

Should I stick with my partners for the initial flips or go the hard money route?

Most investors who take this route are not short-term investors and do not enter the investment with a timeline for sale. 

Have you done any research on what investing method route you might take?