He likes this model because they are short term turn arounds and a quick turn on his money.

Model (Asset > Debt > Equity) to evaluate these situations.You cannot buy the asset because you don't have a competent seller.

Im a little disorganized,  and with having a full time job I am starting to get overwhelmed with managing utilities and turnover and am questioning if renting by the room is feasible on a large scale business model of 10+ houses. 

Sadly, it's what a lot of brokerages preach as their main business model.

Also, does anyone have any knowledge about which style and/or brand of automated gate require the least maintenance?

From there if you have a working model you should find your target price point almost immediately based on public information and a range for the rehab costs. 

Here's a related question: Are there any investors on here who actually NEED wholesalers to sustain their business model?

If you buy privately then it is not really turn key in the business model sense. 

It's the exact same business model and it doesn't matter to them if you sell one house or one sandwich.  

Over the next several years, I think appreciation is definitely going to be a factor, but that's not what we base our model on.