Just a bilateral agreement that specifies:The giver of the option, or optionorThe receiver of the option, or optioneeThe purchase priceThe term (start date and end date) that the agreement will be in effectThe consideration (typically a dollar amount) paid by the optionee to secure the right to buyPLUS whatever else your attorney thinks is necessary.Make the document recordable by your county clerk, get it signed (and possibly notarized), and then have it recorded on public record.The intent is to ensure that if he tries to sell to anyone else, a title search will find this agreement and trigger a title defect.

The workaround I have read about but not tried myself is to add a rehab amount to the settlement statement of the initial purchase. 

The amount of poop, wear and tear and liability is not something I’m cool with.

If they do, then to close on time you and the seller are very quickly going to have to agree to whatever the lender wants in exchange for being willing to doing an escrow holdback at all, which fancy language aside is basically ransom money in an amount greater than the estimated completion cost, to be released once it's complete (ransoms only work if the thing held ransom is worth more than the thing you want).

They approved the loan because the house was such a great deal with lots of current equity and the potential for a huge amount of equity once remodeled. 

Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bpThe second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciatedThe last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

This method of doing things definitely required more of our time & sweat equity, but we were able to perform what amounted to nearly a gut rehab with high-end finishes for $60 / sf.We finished the renovation and immediately staged / furnished both units. 

Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bpThe second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciatedThe last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bpThe second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciatedThe last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

The VA loan is very low down payment (highest mortgage amount possible) and you have to owner occupy, right?