You may not even need an Electrician, a good Handyman could do that....How much money are we talking about here?

Another struggle i have with STR is replacing small items continually which ties back to pricing.

Also talk to local agents and ask for their insights.

Finding an analytical agent is a good thing but hard to do.I would ask any agent I was interviewing to give me 5 properties they have been the buyer's agent for in the last 6 months and talk to the clients about their experience. 

Before you commit I would talk to banks, probably local banks are better than regional or national. 

Stop hanging out with your deadbeat buddies who spend all day drinking, talking sports, and otherwise wasting away.

In talks on four different properties. 

I work with investors from California all the time that are able to find good cash flow in a growing market where the appreciation is obvious.I agree with @Jason Wray that many of the investors I talk with from the West Coast find that the markets in the sunshine belt work far better for their investments. 

There have been numerous people on BP talking about how they paid application fees but they could never get their loans closed on any deal brought to the company.

Talk about aiming high, right?