I just recently found out that my company is closing mid summer.

First, I'd try to find why the water is doing that as you can replace the siding, but if the water is going to keep doing it, you will have that problem again.If it is isn't a condo, I'd talk to your insurance company.

I'm a professional painter, and just used the product on a tough job this week (tried Kilz on a section and it didn't cover, Zinsser covered it perfectly).   

I'd like some reviews on property management companies in these cities as that will be a big deciding factor for me since I will be an out of state investor and this will be my first investment!

We can help you out with offmarket aquisition and Property Management in Cincinnati , give me a call to see if we have answers to all the woes you had with your previous PM companies you used , or if you are new to investing in cincinnati we can start from basics and help you put as well 

Is it to our advantage to mention that we're just a regular couple, not a company?

There are a few ways to accomplish this transaction: a real estate broker acting as a transaction coordinator/facilitator (not representing the buyer or seller), a real estate attorney, and/or a title company.I would opt for a licensed broker to handle the contract of sale, and hand it over to the title (or escrow) company. 

If the new owner gets title insurance, the title company will usually discover the tax sale and redeem at closing.

Also are appraisals always required I know that some companies used BPOs.

While I don't have enough experience with either company to say one is better or worse for hosts than other, I've always found VRBO to be the far clunkier and less user friendly by miles.