You can get them at home depot for about 10 bucks with all the door and screen material. 

You will only own the land the structure is on, rather than the yard, driveway, gardens etc. 

Im beginning to see similar behavior from my contractor - wants more upfront, I've called out a few "obviously shoddy" things and started to get the "well that's a change from the contract - I don't think so.I've got a few recommendations from Home Depot - one guy in fact that has done a couple previous jobs for me (one complete rehab of a unit, then a smaller fix-up job, and I've got him on a two unit rehab right now.

However if I factor in property management cost and gardener fee, I am in the hole closer to $300 a month.

In a perfect world: (in no particular order): Square/rectangular shape, 1-story, open floor plan, lower pitched roof fully trussed, slab on grade monolithic foundation, 24 o.c framing everywhere, T1-11 plyw. siding, minimal windows, minimal doors, minimal trim, minimum code electrical/HVAC/plumbing, carpet everywhere, avoid tile, laminate countertops, Home Depot cabinets, basic fixtures and appliances, no fencing, no trees or old stumps, minimize landscaping, minimize driveways and walkways, forget pavers, cleared flat lot, no fill, utility hookups available in front of house and best case they are aleady tapped, inspectors are easy to work with and pass everything the 1st time, subs show up when they need to and actually care.

Either call your landlord and voice your concerns and see if they would address the issue or simply go to your local hardware store ( Lowe’s or Home Depot) and get a small piece of thin plywood or some other material to place over the hole that would still allow the lines to come through.

There is a waffle house, home depot, att&t, and other commercial bldgs.

I have also done the home depot method and hung out there in the morninng to make contacts, but what other methods are used to find contractors?  

Hone depot offers cabinet refacing and like to push it.

I have seen quite a few homes where the iron is in the  ground water , the people have to monthly clean the sump pit with a garden hose .