I've watched countless videos on YouTube with Grant Cardone and many other big time real estate investors but I'm still in that stage where I feel like I don't quite know enough to approach my first deal confidently.

I just had a 700 sq ft house brought from R-9 to R-39 for $525, and the utility company sent me a rebate check for 30% of that cost. 

A dealer from 60 miles away brought the car to me and had the reduced rate just to the dealers closer to me wouldn't get a sale. 

This civil penalty may be recovered in any action brought under this part by the enforcing authority; or the enforcing authority may terminate any investigation or action upon agreement by the person, firm, corporation, association, or entity, or the agent or employee of the foregoing, to pay a stipulated civil penalty.

You can approach potential investors before you have a deal and ask if they'd be interested in investing when the time comes.

I recently put my home on the market and I was approached by an investor that is interested in a lease option to own agreement.

If you, or any other buyer reading this gets on the phone with some provider OOS and they DON'T take this approach, then I would be cautious. 

What are some alternative or creative approaches to this situation?

I brought this up in a recent REI meetup and I think it is a tool that can help those who might need to build some age of credit or give a boost to that score to help get that better rate. 

How you approach the rent raises depends on if you want to keep the tenants but it sounds like you do.