Close proximity to shopping, restaurants, schools, parks, public transportation, and freeway."

Physically cleaned house minus their personal rooms and bathrooms to remind them how it should be.

My fiancé and I want to start our investment portfolio with STR’s and are focusing on the areas listed because of their proximity to us and the attractions that would bring in tenants (Cooks forest, Allegheny national forest, Ohiopyle, Hocking Hills, and all the attractions of the city).

You want to physically meet your prospective tenants for many reasons.

MOVE to a NO income TAX state OR set-up corporation in NO income TAX state holding co.OR look into NO TAX paper plays if you want to get out of physical.1031 is NOT the only way to NO taxes.You can also set-up a NON-PROFIT and donate the property, assets, etc.THEN PULL any reasonable salary you wantfor your entire family, friends, etc.It really depends on your goals?

And/or you pay someone to physically drive for dollars to collect addresses, and/or door knock. 

Focus on a narrow band of features you're looking for (Property class, physical details, property age, etc). 

broaden the marketing a bit...occupational therapists, physical therapists, resperatory specialists and on and on...they have outsourced all these formerly doctor functions to specific professionals now, and like traveling nurses they are often young, getting paid well and love to travel.

This enables us to promote your property to a broad audience while limiting physical foot traffic to only serious buyers.Likewise, our buyer clients can view properties online and take virtual video tours to minimize the number of homes they step inside.

By having the property in a close proximity to you it'll be easier to handle.