The catch with the estimate is you may be wildly off since it's a new home and you don't really know what those bills will be until you've lived there a year (seasonal variability). 

Would be nice to know a local GC here in the Tampa area that's seasoned in that kind of a task!

It has all been a learning experience and I feel seasoned enough in my knowledge to know a deal when i see it. 

We make the design but we let our landscapers choose the actual types of plants based on season and cost. 

If it were the off season and I was having trouble renting I may consider it again but overall I don't think it is worth the extra vacancy but if you are doing MTR it is definitely worth making the right connections. 

I specialize in getting foreign investors started in Dubai and work with seasoned local companies who handle everything from start to finish.

This also helps me to forecast seasonality on my properties.

I have just purchased a property at the Jersey Shore that will be used exclusively for short-term rentals through the summer season. 

REI wise-- I don't know if it's seasonality, rates, or what, but I'm noticing more DOM than ever in most of my markets, inventory trending up, and some savvy real estate agents getting in front of the price action.

Watch how you spend. you'll treat holiday season after October and your summer activity post April very differently.