Living in a house with toddlers while fixing it up can be challenging.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.

Keep it professional and short and non-negotiable.

My professional experience come in the form of mortgage originator with Wells Fargo and lead residential appraiser for multiple cities in the Hennepin County Assessors office.

Since you have  a history of emailing them there is no reason you cannot send and email, just be sure to keep it short & professional, save a copy, and be sure to let them know you will be refunding them the cost of the fee (yes, I know you didn't get the fee but you still must return it by law unless you did give them a written criteria prior to applying and the reason for denial was on the critieria.)I would recommend you come up with a written criteria ASAP. 

There's a fair amount of young professionals as well as students from Southern CT State University that also add to the renter pool. 

They might mean well but they aren't professionals and have their own limited ideas.  

thank you for your service, just remember your a marine implement the same values, set expectations and stick to them.. understand your rights as a landlord and also their rights as a tenant then just screen properly and hold them accountable be friendly courteous and professional yet firm. 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

As the others say talk to the professionals.