I refer him out.

The idea of taking the monthly cash over the lump sum can be a better choice, but not in all cases.  1 - Let's start with the question of how old a person is, and how long they will be taking that $50/month, or $600/year. 

Do you think sticking with white is a safe choice, or is there another color that would add some more curb appeal while remaining neutral?

You have to find the right one by asking the right questions and getting references.  

Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Still in the beginning stages, but will refer back as we move along.

Going turnkey is a smart choice given your time constraints, just make sure you have a property management in place to handle the proeprties for you. 

For reference I am in the northeast.

When you say building a stable tenant base, that's referring to long term tenants that rent for 3-5 years vs maybe a 6 month or 1 year rental? 

The choice depends on readiness, experience, and long-term goals.Good luck!