I read the original post and my first reaction was "What the actual heck is happening here?"  

Love the  custom design flexibility, relative low cost, and the impressed reaction I get from folks I hand them to. 

I always get the : "you made this, out of that" kind of reaction to before and after pics. 

To some degree the idea of lawyering up or calling CFPB promotes this reaction of lackadaisical follow through.  

Those discretionary actions have a critical impact on individual liberty.”CFPB spokesperson Moira Vahey said in reaction to Tuesday's D.C.

But also consider, your fearful reaction could be good. 

My first reaction- I never answer a call from an unknown number unless they are calling my business line and my regular number is set up to automatically send "SPAM" calls to voice mail. 

but i did have two thoughts / reactions to your option 1.1. it's very difficult to get a HELOC on a rental property.2. based on your price point - 525K + 150K in renovations - it seems unlikely to me that this property would be a viable rental. 

Depending on their response/reaction, you might think about offering them 'key money'; pay them a month's rent (or more) if they will move out in your time frame. 

Yes, bumper stickers (and people's reactions to them) can be polarizing.