From my experience, most contractors if they're looking out for their own skin will inflate construction prices.Florida's likely to be different but 70-90k is a HUGE budget. 

should I have a skin in the game?

You don't need prior experience for hard money, you just need skin in the game, maybe 20%-30% down payment.

In fact, I wouldn't vote for or against anyone because of their skin color.

It is no skin off my back!

Basic things like a PM having their own crew, handling the relationship and having experience are hugely beneficial but having real skin in the game helps a ton.

The bank wants you to have skin in the game so they won't let you borrow the down payment.

But you will still need some money because they want you to have skin in the game plus see reserve funds.

He can absolutely leave a very disgusting mess if I don't clean up after him, feces and skin he sheds. 

Different ways to skin that cat...for example if you gave 6 months of free rent on a 10 yr term, you could structure it as "3 months of free rent after opening plus one free month at months 13, 25, and 37 of the term", and then extend the term 6 months to be a 10 yr and 6 mo term.