I was contacted by a young, hungry for success college grad that wanted to see how he could help me in my real estate business in exchange for knowledge and mentor ship.He connected with me on here (BP) and is located in NY while I am located in PA.How could we work together efficiently while being remote for one another?

Tenants are going to leave whenever they need to leave regardless of the paperwork,so the longer time period benefits tenants more than landlords.You should research the laws and ensure that Kirkland doesn't fall under Seattle rules and that King County does have more restrictive laws than WA.

We are now in contact with several agents in Denver on potential FHA loan properties, and have a calculator/model and are analyzing deals to ensure they make sense when Max were to move out later this year. 

I would just evaluate the exterior in comparison to other recently sold properties to ensure it is on the same level.

I wasn't, because the list was ridiculous with stuff like screwing in a loose outlet and having a licensed electrician verify that repair, or having a licensed plumber look at the garbage disposal to ensure it's sealed.

I think there's a saying about how the laziest people find the most efficient solutions.

While upgrades certainly give you more curb appeal and a potential advantage over the competition you need to ensure you are not putting too much into a home. 

In that case, you need to consult an attorney to ensure you comply with the state law and your governing docs.

@Michael Wagner has one side of the coin which is efficiency. 

You need to find several other contractors to bid this, and ensure they’re licensed, insured, and fully vetted with good references.