Negotiating patients dispersents to contractors and doing any of work your capable of yourself.I was in your shoes almost a year ago and have started the process of refinancing out of fha so when my year of being an owner occupant is fulfilled I can rent it out and repeat the process of another low down payment primary residence .

I have additional storage closets in the utility room that I could lease to the tenants.

I'd probably just put down laminate and glue shoe molding along the edge to save time. 

(To thise offended by my characterization of some, I apologize as a few do wear shoes)

I was cold calling last night trying to find another storage facility to buy and came across a owner that has two car wash business that he is thinking of selling. 

That would be my first step if I were in your shoes.  

At the end of the day I purchased 5 houses, 3 more than my intended 2, I flipped 2, "wholetailed" one, converting 1 to a triplex with 3 storage units, and am looking into subdividing the last parcel into 3 parcels, selling 2 and then lease-optioning the house after remodel.

I suspect the installer didn't give the flooring room to expand under the shoe molding.

We had often talked about retirement strategies and land investments, and since her father rents out storage units we looked into that as well. 

If I were in your shoes, I would be thinking this guy is either a liar, or a crazy person.