I love how you reframed failure as a stepping stone to success.

Giving them a laundry list of items will typically just overwhelm them and create more confusion instead of giving them a smaller step process to get more confidence to get the ball rolling and then they can get into the weeds on their state when they get the contractors out there, have local bids come in, and dial in their plan. 

We do take many steps to consider whether a tenant will be a good fit for the property.

If it escalates, they can step in and mediate if needed.

Just the first step alone is a bit of a deterrent. 

That is the best case scenario, of course sometimes you get lied to and stalled, that's why it is important to always emply a double strategy and stay a step ahead.

@Gash Nookala,Renting can indeed be slower in winter, but here are some tips to boost interest:Enhance Listing: Ensure your listing has detailed descriptions and high-quality photos—consider professional photography if needed.Competitive Pricing: Double-check local comps; even a slight price adjustment or incentives (like a reduced deposit) could attract more interest.Broaden Marketing: Beyond Zillow, Hemlane, and MLS, use social media, community boards, and local business connections to reach a wider audience.Flexible Lease Terms: Offering shorter or month-to-month leases might appeal to tenants during this slower season.Local Property Manager: A local pro can tap into their network and help fill the vacancy faster.These steps should help you find a tenant despite the seasonal slowdown.

It's got an AVM of $65k which, granted, is only one step above zestimate, but looks like basically everything in that neighborhood is $50-80k.

Does this approach make sense as a first step for us?

I’m glad your contractor and agent stepped up when things got messy.