Over time this will be well worth spending that extra dollar an hour, or a little more on cabinetsIn my experience it is always more expensive to do a job twice and fix a mistake than doing it right the first time 

I spend 2 hours per week driving to them all to make sure they’re neat and clean and well maintained.

I've since pulled a second permit and will soon be appraising right around $2m with an additional $330k invested for total equity of approximately $1.2m.

Any recommendations on how can I spend less on this?

See if you can require the tenant(s) to have an additional liability insurance for having an animal in the home, maybe?

In addition with a 2nd refinance later on, you stretch the payments out again.

Typically, agency (Fannie/Freddie/FHA) funding does not allow for significant construction/improvement funds in addition to funds to buy a home.

orlando is a super competitive STR market these days. you have to go over the top with design, in addition to managing it really really well. if it was me, i'd sell or invest in top tier design from someone like @itsbridgettebitch on IG (she designs at least some of @robuilt 's STRs).

This is what Burger King does: McDonald's spends millions in researching the best areas to establish themselves in a city.

Do I need additional policy for the first property?