A few other tid bits... run a schedule and have a routine.

The house is on the older side and previous owner definitely deferred a lot of routine maintenance. 

Needs cosmetic updates and new rug according to the pictures.

I could do needed and cosmetic rehab to the property.

First off, Maybe show them something cosmetic that you can do to show your “cleaning “ up the place and not just “telling them what to do”.

It needs some exterior  work and some interior cosmetics, but the units themselves are in pretty good shape.

Relationships with the tenants will be based around the terms laid out in the leases and should likely have little impact on the routines of the tenants.My best suggestion would be to position yourself as the "property manager" and not the owner if you're self-managing.  

I had completed a few flips before, but was interested in moving beyond a simply cosmetic flip in hopes of adding more value.

My neighbors routinely have late-night parties in their backyard that are loud and go on later than my wife and I would like, and that situation is indistinguishable from your neighbors having a religious ceremony. 

Minor cosmetic repairs and save a lot.