Having said that, I have never hired a designer for any of my properties so maybe others with experience will chime in.

It could help you network with other investors in your marketplace and learn from their experiences.

I would use that experience and take the first step into purchasing your first property.

Currently working on a couple small deals myself and would be happy to share experiences if you're ever interested.

Here's my 2 cents from my experience but i'm not an attorney or CPA so it would be good to ask one :)1.

Not looking for concessions here just seeing if anyone has experience in that field.

So, I think many investors know enough about the possible issues from their own experience to do some research themselves and then understand the possible risks and are prepared to deal with them.

Since i paid cash for new michigan home i can use it to finance the future MI rental home and pay it right back off again in 2-5 yrs if i need to,  Im going to try to not do that.I had come up with this plan all on my own but had no real idea of how to execute it and i had ZERO practical experience. 

Not a recommendation, but worth experimenting, if direct booking is part of your strategy.

What made this opportunity particularly enticing was my prior experience managing this exact duplex for the same investor over a span of three years.The property itself is a 1950s duplex that underwent significant renovations in 2017.