This helps you get your procedures and style down for communicating with sellers.

Bear in mind, that advice from your attorney, accountant and/or from the State Department of WC (if applicable) certainly trumps what I communicate here.The most important consideration is to understand that how you compensate your labor may or may not excuse you from carrying WC coverage on them.

All communication is via email.  

@John ThedfordI realize you are an agent, the effective way protect yourself is use a lease and a contract for option, finish the lease and get the option, from my FL attorney 

I don't remember his exact words, but he said something to the effect of, "you have to keep your pipeline full of prospects.

I'd get people who didn't "get" the idea of an answering service and try to strong-arm the call taker into contacting me directly.People would hang up, call back, hang up, and then leave nasty messages to the effect of "I've tried to reach Jeff several times but he hasn't returned my call."

Your lease should have a notices required recital, certified mail, return receipt requested to the address of the tenant, notice effective upon the mailing.

What you are talking about is a down payment, so if you can get 80% of the property financed at 4.5% and use the LOC for the other 20%, your effective interest rate would be much easier to deal with.

I have been communicating with the seller's birddog and have only talked to the seller himself a few minutes over the phone thusfar.

No, your lease will remain in effect and pass on to new owners of mineral estate.