This deal was financing using a hard money loan.

Were they reliable in getting the rent payments processed from the tenant's checking / savings account to the landlord's account?

Typically fixing a leak is small money and repairing the damage is where the money is at.If this is a rental and you don’t have the funds then sell it.

We have A LOT of money saved for reserves.

When starting, save 10% of every paycheck for your first down payment.

If you have to save some $ somewhere: Get some exact measurements and go find a used , surplus, scratch and dent, fb marketplace, etc -- tub that fits (double tripple checking specs), for your contractor to install.

I'd be tempted to sell and invest that money elsewhere. 

You can go to small claims court, but you are unlikely to see the money. 

I have allocated $250,000 in savings specifically for investments, aiming for a conservative down payment of 3.5% to 5%, depending on the deal and financing terms.I am planning a visit to Florida in June to scout properties and gain a deeper understanding of Tampa's neighborhoods, including the greater tampa area.

I don’t have that much money and even if I have I don’t want to pay this much for small water removal.