I hired my local lineman on a Saturday to wire a mechanical transfer switch(idiot proof) w/a pigtail total cost w/labor was a little shy of 500.  Switch was 350 and about 2.5hrs labor.   He tied in right below the meter and my main disconnect at the pole, that way it runs my well, shop, house and livestock waterers,etc..  Although we don't bake and run the dryer at the same time, I run all this with a 10K Miller Bobcat welder/generator that I already owned.  This way nobody gets hurt and the family stays warm and can take a hot shower,warm food etc.. during an outage.  If these things are important to you I think anybody posting on this board can muster up 500.  Your renter should go half therefore, about 250$  and your done for good and even the wife can kick it on in an emergency!