I bought a SFR in Alaska a few years ago, I asked about the furnace and the agent pointed to a freestanding white metal box, next to the wall in the dining room, that was about the size of a large printer.

As far as the counters the market I'm in doesn't at all call for that high end of material.

Get credit cards at Home Depot and Lowe's to use for rehab materials. 

My company will be doing the labor for free, and the materials will be provided for us. https://www.crowdrise.com/atlyouthimgafterschool/fundraiser/modernhomeconcepts

Some of the materials used in the 60's were and still are superior quality to what you can buy.  

Also, your architect may not be a crook, but materials and finishes make all the difference in the world.

Luckily, there has never been a better time to get educated in real estate, and there's more free material out there than ever before as well! 

I also have found some other greatly great deals on materials.  

For the most part, the material is not hard it just takes a lot of time.

So instead of purchasing materials with cash, you can put them on credit and with small monthly payments, you can push off paying until your rehab sells (as long as it sells within the timeframe allotted).