If I keep it as a rental on my tax return, I will have to 1031 exchange it to avoid Capital gains and would prefer to not have to if I can claim it as my primary. 

Don't count on your insurer to tell you every dollar to which you're entitled to pursue a claim. 

As a fulltime W-2 earner it may be hard to claim REPS status, but material participation, cost segregation, and other strategies could benefit you.

Interesting because the company you hired claims they are members of NARPM and should have been on NARPM's website.FYI it's not a bad sign if a PM has bad reviews and the reviews are from tenants.

I want real life examples of how they are so good in whatever they claim.#2 You may have your blinders on a certain asset class when a different one is performing better? 

I see many people starting out in the industry with very unrealistic expectations that drive them to take action, which is completely normal and that’s how most humans function.

A title company settles a claim in 30 days, usually... you have borrower paid insurance? 

Can I Quit Claim to another LLC owned by the Partnership? 

My suggestion would be to send the security deposit claim for the anticipated refund minus what you anticipate the bill will be (historical average plus some padding). 

You mention you rent rooms to family which is a plus but do you claim the rents.