@Chris Youssi Hey.. don't paint all of us with that same broad California brush!

The bulk of my time and energy drain on this one was finding hardwood to best match 60yr old soft fir 'hardwood' flooring, figuring out how to blend old asbestos tile siding patches with something modern and the main drain and in-wall dryer venting. 

A 16 unit multifamily can qualify for a 35 year fixed rate loan under the HUD 223(f) loan program, however the fixed soft costs involved with that program generally are not economical for a request of that size.

I'm not interested in brushing them off or telling them to buy it themselves, but also not interested in letting them out of the lease.

Even custom cabinet boxes are made cheaply anymore.You can easily add soft close door dampers for $2 each cabinet to upgrade (search Amazon for these). 

Even with the pro nylon brush on a high speed drill.

It is probably pine which is soft and will come out with real character. 

That's a broad brush, I know - but in general I think people chasing more yield are finding that they have to tread more carefully lately.

If you press in on it, is it really soft and moves a lot?

Because the guy I was talking to kinda seemed like a jerk, like IDK if he thought I was lying or what but he could use some brushing up in customer service