I've had to help clients deal with this situation at times.

Maybe setting up for STR and looking into MTR since you have it furnished already, there is plenty you can do with your situation. 

Since ALE hires a company to supply furniture, install washer and dryer but ALE is not on the Lease, this particular situation seems to be a loophole for companies such as ALE to not have liability if their hires cause damage not the tenant. 

Stanley - I would suggest that you go have 3-5 conversations with lenders and understand how much they are willing to lend to you given your financial situation.

I am very big on building equity, largely due to my career situation.

What's the best way to handle this situation? 

Protecting yourself from any future issues will require a good understanding of the situation your house is in when you buy it.Tl;dr: crime here is relatively low, declining population numbers don't take students into account, properties are cheap, rents are high BUT be careful where you buy.This concludes my TED Talk, ha!

How do I navigate this situation and any recommendations for hiring professional for furnishing and for taking photos. 

I have had clothes with holes in them going to work when I had a job because I didn't have money for food not alone 10 dollars for more pants back then.I went out to Barnes and Noble bookstore and started reading in the store.

edit: you can store your coins offline too in case the net goes down for a bit.