As a rehab manager myself I will say that your contractor is smart, he is trying to gently assert that its "HIS" project once you signed the agreement. 

A hairdresser, massage therapist, and a couple who made counters and furniture from rough cut slabs of wood.Our space is 24,000 sq feet with 4 separate wings and a 2000 sq foot commercial kitchen.  

You can get gently used appliances if the current ones do not work.Talk to him about you moving in and getting a roommate and see what he thinks. 

I was befriended by a gentle man who for some reason made it his purpose to teach me about real estate as more than a job but as a long term financial investment.

And please be gentle with responses.

I once had a renter with a pit bull that he swore up and down was the most gentle dog on the planet, but as soon as his wife gave birth the dog was gone.

It will remain in place and be removed at the end of tenancy.Hopefully, that sways people towards treating it more gently.

Gotta massage it a little to let the alcohol work on the paint.

Aligning payment on milestones rather than dates is commonplace in large construction projects but may require some massaging for smaller projects and with residential contractors.

Yes. attached below is a text massage received from real east agent .I was buy this property as a primary residents so we agreed to Cash for keys agreement with the tenants in which seller and agent wanted me to pay $13,000 up front to the tenants with no guarantee that tenants will move with in 60 days of closing .