Maybe chat with a financial advisor and have them help you set up an IRA and throw 25k directly into that on a high/medium/low-risk level and watch that slowly grow as a slush fund for further investments. 

Expensive and waste to replace all since upper cabinets are all good, having all cabinets painted would cost $1500 - also not cheap, the paint may get chipped easily.  7.

The best system will include today, soaker hoses to water foundation, not just spray heads.If there is no sprinkler, I would think it is not easy or cheap to hire someone to water. 

Also running an STR business is not just as easy throwing it on Airbnb anymore, it is a competitive business. 

Unless you have done hundreds of deals, are a volume flipper/wholesaler, or like to just throw money away, why would you be offering on properties now without seeing them?

leave the old **** houses alone cheap doesn't mean good. if it was so good reits and institutions would be doing it.

Be nice and then throw it in the trash after closing.

Just throwing that out there. 

Otherwise, you probably will end up with a cheap, bad at communicating company who you will end up regretting hiring because they aren't actually getting anything done. 

I would throw caution at giving credibility to news stories about rates driving people out of Florida or increased natural disasters impacting rates.