The Landlord will verify that the rental is empty of all personal belongings and trash and that there is no damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. 

Residents in flood-prone areas were offered newly built, elevated homes on safer ground in exchange for transferring the title of their damaged original homes to the city. 3.

I would send a lease violation notice that advises the tenant that they have violated the no smoking provision of the lease and that it needs to be cured immediately - to include complying (not smoking) and remove any odor/damage that may have resulted.

Does anyone have a template or method that they use in order to screen tenants effectively in order to reduce the risk of non payment and damage to the property? 

Poor communicators, poor housekeeping skills, prescription med abuse, big dogs that they couldn't properly care for, damaging, etc.

  $7k damage. 

So, make sure YOU understand the copy & paste info below:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Quote from @Khaled El Dorry: I have a portfolio of 3 SFH's (2 in Jax and 1 in ocala) and 1 duplex in port charlotte (never flooded or damaged due to hurricanes) that have done very well for me.  

Also think about what can be damaged (tenants generally don't take care of the place as well as you would). 

My #1 fear going into this was partying guests disturbing neighbors and damaging the property.