Yes, there are alternatives that will be legal in your state.

I'd probably try to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting with the contractor to explain that a mutually agreeable schedule needs to be defined & followed or else he will leave you no choice but to pursue a legal solution. 

The "does direct mail work" thread was so much fun that I thought that we should chat about the alternative.

So you have to make sure you get good references and interview a few before making a choice.

Specifically if a given property has updated systems and is held for a shorter period, the Cap Ex budgeted would be lower than a long-term hold with dated plumbing, electrical and requiring a new roof.Better to over estimate and have plenty of reserves just in case instead of the alternative.

People still need to go away, even during a recession, and Big Bear will offer an inexpensive alternative most nights and weekends, with inexpensive family activities.

So while some residents commute down to Denver or up to the Fort, either way it's a crappy commute and wouldn't be anyone's first choice.

Trusts were a better choice was the recommendation from the attorney I used.  

Alternatively you could consider financing with another bank or mortgage broker, or look for hard money loans. 

Another alternative is what we do, which is help you get setup with business lines of credit so it's not tied to a property and does not show up on your personal credit report.