Financing would be done by a local or regional commercial bank and they will lend 60 to 70% of the cost of the project or value which ever is lower. 

Hire whichever cleaner you like the most and adopt their system.

We do allow use of the garden areas to whichever tenant speaks up first, and currently have only one tenant doing any gardening at all.When we bought our first triplex, one tenant was given a $25/month rent reduction to take care of the lawn and snow, and act as property manager- it was in his rental agreement. 

Your cell phone company?

Your initial purchase price + closing costs when you purchased the home...OR..75% of the Appraised value......whichever is LOWER.In your example above you will be limited to receiving $168,750.  

A great way to do this is to call a local title company or closing attorney, whichever is used in your area and let them know you have a great real estate deal but need help putting it together and ask them to refer you to an investor who closes a lot of deals with them.  

My only expenses were car payment ($189), cell phone ($65), and gas.

I've had a cell phone, a lap top, and an internet connection since 1998, and I'm hardly an early adapter type.

Whichever way people go, we recommend finding tax planners vs tax preparers.

Within this period you can only refinance for the current value of property or the sale price - whichever is lower (I would hope the latter is always true and in my case it is) and this is called delayed financing.