There will most likely need to be updates to some of the furniture and probably the linens.

Do they pick up or will they require you to contract with a waste company that will supply a dumpster and handle pickup.- If you get a dumpster, neighbors dumping in your bin may be a problem, depending on the location.

They still owe me a refund for furniture they never ordered.

So, 400k - 500k sounds like lots of money but if you wanna operate in the 300k+ entry point it get can swallowed up quick.One strategy I'd try is to be a buyer at the auctions, win a bid on a good house, close on it in cash (you should be a great deal under market value) and then get into a delayed purchase bridge loan product which will cash you out a certain percentage of the purchase and supply the rehab funds. 

In those two specific states there is just a ton of build-able lots especially SWF so you dont have a supply issue like other areas of the country that are supply constrained and therefore prices are holding or even rising a tad.

We're currently looking for ways to streamline supplies for cleaners (toiletries, towels, item replacements) and handle small handyman issues.

Actually buying these apartments and not the current supply is a good opportunity.

Senior Living here is in short supply and high demand - good luck!  

For a scope like yours, it typically takes 2-3 months with a solid GC, though sometimes supply issues can stretch that out.

Know the demand and supply in the area.