Not much to add - these 3 guys nailed it. 

I have my handyman go through each room, fill nail holes, touch up paint and roll whole walls where there are lots of scuffs, etc. 

Back when only nails were used in homes to hang drywall over the years they pull and you develop cracks at the joints.

You really nailed the main ones, exorbitant up-front fees and a lack of reviews.You can speak with local investors at your REIA events to get an idea of who they've worked with in the past.

Then I'll tell you the tools.I think you might need painting supplies, an air compressor with hoses and nailing attachments, cordless drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, drywall screwdriver.

You will need to nail down your labor costs for the actual construction as well, and include costs for nails, glue, saw blades, etc.Also, assume a 10-20% gc markup and project management costs.

Nevertheless, we preserved our equity from each property, added a little in profit, and some from rent from house #2.

If you're all in it for building and preserving wealth then you will want to explore markets that will provide you the best ROI. 

Get a flat nail puller.  

RECOMMEND you break your SOW into 3 segments:1) Health & Safety + Property Preservation repairs - these should always be done to avoid lawsuits & further property damage- Handrails- Smoke detectors- Water leaks- Etc2) Needed cosmetic repairs that will affect marketability- Ugly paint- Ugly flooring- Out of date kitchens3) Miscellaneous that may or may not affect marketability- New windows (assuming old ones work fine)- Above range microwave- Anything that is slightly damaged, but still functional.