When I had to switch Property Management companies, they suggested that I do include pets in my rental listing. 

Staying involved in a business partnership while dissolving the marriage will rarely work.If you split the properties, I recommend hiring a good property manager.

If want passive just buy stocks or class A lower leverage multifamily which is easy to self manage. 

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Especially in Iowa when it is 0 degrees and 30 mile per hour winds.These properties we are doing have the Teak component, but they all have secondary values with locations, building sites, phone/internet reception, water, palm trees, fruit trees etc. 

I estimated capex at 10% which I think is low considering the deferred maintenance, 10% property management, 8 percent vacancy.

It's an estimated cash on cash return given current rental rates subtract expenses assuming 7% interest rate, 10% management fee, 5% repairs, 5% capex and other expenses like mortgage, insurance, tax. it's a estimate to tell you what properties to analyze vs ignoreyou can see the are pockets of negative returns as well as pockets of positive return. this is to supplement the data @Devin Conley provided

Without accounting for management fees (I have not yet decided if I will try to self manage), and with planning to raise rents to typical market of $825 for each of the smaller units, and $1200 for the larger unit, does this seem like a worthy first investment? 

I have grown insanely skeptical of BP over the last 5 years, yet somehow I am trying the lead generation for both property management and now as a featured agent.

Unfortunately, not many around like that...The appraisal is about $150-$200 higher than standard cost because they likely went through an appraisal management company ("AMC") to get the appraisal ordered/assigned.