Be it yellow letters, custom postcards, etc. it seems that this tactic of REI marketing is alive and fruitful here in CO.

I am going to play devils advocate on your thought process of cheaper money compared to local HML.Crowd funding will make a little dent.. but its very very hard to take customers away from their existing lenders.

This is a place to learn, share, get custom feedback to your questions and network. 

If you guys paid cash for the property & want to avoid borrowing funds, but need money to pay the contractor & start producing income, then you could possibly do a lease option (aka rent to own) allowing the tenant/ buyer to choose design elements or have input on the design (so that they feel they're getting some kind of customization & added value), this would be of course AFTER collecting an NROC fee, (Non-Refundable Option Consideration - not a down payment but gives them the right to purchase at a future date - usually 3-5 yrs) typically anywhere between 5%- 10% of the market value of the property.

If so, how did it look and can you provide pictures?

There's not a day that goes by that I don't shake my head at some incredibly asinine thing a customer or banker tries to get away with.

I'm educated and very intelligent and also have a knack for computers and customer relations.

If you want a custom lease instead of the standard C.A.R. one, I'd call around to different attorneys who specialize in working with landlords.

The guy who inspected the property took a few pictures asked minimal questions and left.

Congrats @Jeff Fruhwirth on the deal and sticking it out.You should post pictures of the property.