But literally no one else has ever stopped by with coffee to just chat with the owner to find out the ground truth, and the repairs/upgrades needed are mostly aesthetic.  

I stripped the wallpaper and layers of paint on top of it from some of them for aesthetic reasons. 

Fixtures involve aesthetic choices, so you wouldn't want to have your contractor choosing those anyways.

The next thing to consider is if there is anything you can do to justify the increase in rent- any repairs that have been put off or aesthetic items that could improve the property- some landscaping or a coat of paint can do wonders.  

Personally, I believe forced heat is much more aesthetically pleasing, however, this comes with a huge price. 

At present I'm looking at homes that don't need FULL reno--mostly aesthetic fixes/updating, but still fixer uppers to an extent. 20% down and leaving ample cushion (I think) for reno etc. 

@Martin Neal I am also a big believer that the aesthetic of a space will bring in certain types of tenants.

Though I am house hacking, thankfully I'm not picky when it comes to neighborhood or aesthetics.

Are there any sources, articles, books for how to make a quality aesthetic rehab for a rental home?

I wouldn't have normally thought to include any aesthetic HOA requirements into a renovation budget.