If you hired a PM because of lack of time, to simplify your headaches, and to represent you during planning and construction, you can let them know about your future plans that may require their help again so you can work on a favorable fee from the beginning. 

And putting it like that does make sense for me because I like things very simplified if possible. 

This is an over-simplified explanation, but maps cannot show what is really happening on the ground.The growth in pricing is fueled primarily by investors.  

The (simplified) common pricing formula in real estate investing is this:ARV x 70% - Repairs = Offer PriceSo consider a house with an AFTER REPAIRED VALUE of $100,000.

I buy and sell properties to other investors, sometimes I'll assign the contract just to simplify things, that's less in transfer taxes, etc. ....if they don't want you to assign it (yeah some people are picky and sensitive) and the numbers make sense just double close using a Transactional lender, 0 money out of pocket.

I appreciate you simplifying what can be a complex process.

2) do you think you’d have better luck simplifying your list by just paying for absentee, and not paying the extra fees for extra data?

Then after leaving unit 2 in Sept, went to a totally different property.So with the above suggestion, I would just show owner-occupancy in unit 1 from Jan-Sept. in order to simplify it.

So we ultimately went with East West Bank because I didn't want to max out my line but just get a simplified HELOC with low doc requirements.

I think he was purposely simplifying the process when he said call the 1st sergeant and his pay would be docked because the exact details of the process are irrelevant to the question at hand.