Hey Marc, this is a tough situation and a good reminder to always have a contract in place for any business dealings.

When staff members are well-informed, they understand the situation better and can assist in the transition process.Throughout my career, I have followed these principles of transparency when selling properties.

How do fellow landlords handle this situation?

Seller Financing I am the buyer with 30 days to purchase the property and want to simultaneously market it as rent-to-own,  how can I structure the process effectively:Can I structure the deal this way, so I can secure a tenant-buyer while working to close on the home myself,  minimizing my risk and creating a win-win situation.

Alternate rent models can work in specific situations, but as you said, they aren’t always superior to traditional LTR, especially after the costs and effort. 

maybe you can form your own mastermind / small group of local people in your same situation and work on strategies together.I think @Marcus Auerbach totally nailed it. 

Also I found they moved my things around in order to store their things. o  That's what alarmed me, what if they get injured with my tools. 

Build an SMB on top of your real estate (the reverse of #2)Short-term rentals and high owner-participation real estate businesses can have great returns.Obviously not for you if you just want passive RE.We are in the deep end here, where each case should be judged on its own facts and merits by your CPA.You should hire a professional to review your particular situation before you make an investment.

I was wrong.The situation regarding data in FL is, unfortunately, not the same as other states.

Stick with classic neutrals to appeal to the widest range of buyers.There are situations where clients touring homes immediately pass on properties due to strong or unusual color choices.