There are professional stagers in the DMV because it's a lot of furniture to deal with for an occasional stager, if the property is empty or the current furniture is all wrong.

So far, so good.I then received a series of frantic emails from both tenants (they are a couple) claiming amongst other things that the painter had moved all of their bedroom furniture, leaving everything for them to put back, and that the painter had interfered with personal items.

I work full time as a furniture store manager and I've decided to invest in real estate for my retirement.

Try to update everything to latest technology and with proper  furniture .It should be good and well maintain.Lighting should be of upper class .Lightening is like heart of house .nobody likes darkness.

And your goal is to not take pictures of their personal furniture, just the property itself.By law you have the right to show the property during the last 30 days once your tenant gives notice.  

I'd say if the furniture is in decent shape, eliminate the stress and hassle of having to start from scratch. 

Here is what we put in our move out letter, which may be helpful to build on:Specifically, here's a list of items you should thoroughly clean before vacating:[ ] Floors[ ] sweep/mop laminate floors[ ] vacuum carpets and rugs (shampoo if necessary)[ ] mop kitchen and bathroom floors[ ] Walls, baseboards, ceilings, and built-in shelves[ ] Kitchen cabinets, countertops and sink, stove and oven--inside and out [ ] Refrigerator--clean inside and out, empty it of food[ ] Bathtubs, showers, toilets, and plumbing fixtures[ ] Doors, windows, and window coveringsPlease don't leave anything behind--that includes bags of garbage, clothes, food, newspapers, furniture, appliances, dishes, plants, cleaning supplies, or other items that belong to you.For move in, put all info in the rental agreement.  

Almost all furniture, clothes, food, dishes were left behind.

Since it was cleaned new tenant went to the house to measure for her furniture and afterwards let me know that she couldn't handle the smell of the carpet and that she wants it replaced. 

Don't know your market but staging at this point can't hurt just don't do it with "Wholesale Bill's Furniture".