New kitchen cabinets and counters at Home Depot, new vinyl plank floors, new 3 piece bathroom kit, new tiles, new vanity, new paint. 

Don't split the two properties with two companies, sign up with the right company.Find a property management company that thinks like you do @Kit Klekamp One who will carry out your idea of what it is to be 'properly managed'. 

For DIY's with smaller portfolios, often the biggest pain point and most time consuming aspect of the preparation is the calculation of the property basis.

Flipping: I have seen my sister do a few (strictly part time/diy), but I want to fast track it using the best methods and avoiding pitfalls. 

I tend toward the DIY but I have been meaning to get a lawyer.

@Ryan Blake A very common DIY mistake I see in LLCs is someone thinking they formed a series LLC and they didn't.

What book suggestions do you have on home improvement/DIY rehab?

I've done a TON of DIY (actually, probably multiple tons if measured by the mass of building materials!!!).

@Heather OlsonThis is where self-managed DIY landlords shine and any property manager except a well-paid and highly-competent team can lose you serious money.

And there are multiple factors that go into this rent calculation.I am a DIY landlord.