Hi Kevin,Welcome to the Forums.Best of luck locking in that first deal!

Set the thermostat at 55 and lock it. $15 fix.Thermostat Lock

Wondering if you have advice on me just being the bank, where I purchase a house and structure a rent to own with him and have him build up a 30% cash down payment and some equity and then me sell the house to him at a locked in price.  

Once you get this information to them you will also be required to do a zoom call and walk around showing them some of this info - the office, any signage, and locks on doors.

If you enter a neighborhood and you immediately lock all doors from the inside, and check to make sure your gun is loaded, you are in class D no doubt.On the other hand, most class A+ neighborhoods as you drive through you cannot see the houses from the street. 

The ability to get funding in just a few days can make a world of difference, allowing investors to act quickly and lock in the best opportunities.I’m curious, in your experience, what strategies have you found most effective for building strong relationships with reliable direct lenders?

I might try the “emergency service” which is $20 with limited data and just use that for the smart locks and ring cameras.

Have an owner's closet, where you lock up your extra inventory so the guests can't use it. 

I had a couple clients lock in just recently at 7.1% on 10-30 unit deals.

It could be a tactic to lock you into negotiations or gauge your seriousness.