What is a good policy for paint on class A sfh

[Jesse Stephenson]

I manage several class A homes and still struggle with what condition is considered acceptable as far as the walls when a tenant moves out.  Some of my tenants will do touch up painting and leave the place looking great, while others leave lots of rub marks and finger prints and small nail holes, or they patch all the nail holes leaving huge white spots everywhere.  Which then forces me to either touch up or paint the whole room. Painting a whole class A house can cost 1600 dollars.  My landlords don't want to pay that and think the tenant's should leave the place as good as it was when they got there.   So what do I do to make both parties happy and e fair?   Also I sometimes have issues with grass dying while a tenant is there.  Not everyone has a green thumb and can keep their lawns alive as well as others.  I have it in their lease that they are supposed to maintain the lawn but there still tends to be some grey area here.  

[Jeff B.]

IMO, regardless of the lease or  the tenant quality, the curb appeal of your units is YOUR responsibility and part of your marketing - - so hire a yard care service and install sprinklers.

If you don't want patches to show up, restrict hanging pictures et al (bad idea imo), else accept new painting as a move-out/move-in expense - - it always impresses the new tenant to get a "bright & clean" apartment.