Did your friend tell you that rehab funds are only released for completed work? 

For any land contract deal, I would suggest that the signed deed is held in escrow by a 3rd party (like a lawyer or title company) and released once the terms of the LC are met.

I'll probably have to make a short instruction for my guests because there is a locking tab in the middle of the door that needs to be released to open the screen.  

I made a simple offer and the counter offer by the sellers state "Upon buyer releasing the loan contingency, the buyer will immediately release the EMD and the seller will provide notice within 48 hours of the tenants to vacate.""

Does anyone have any tips on how I could get them to release this emd?

But, I know GoDaddy had just released Smartline and it was getting good reviews.

I was once on the other side of this where another PM company did release my rental verification to a former tenant and that REIT/management company will never receive another rental verification from me.

Investment Info:

Single-family residence other investment.

Purchase price: $330,000

Cash invested: $50,000

Sale price: $476,500

Quick turn of a massive historic house downtown. We saw there was ...

Sounds like a some celebration drinks and pick up the tab on dinner. 

If the property it is located on has a bank mortgage you will have to get that bank to release that part of the land from the larger part before you purchase the sign.