Is cleaning up garbage, scrubbing toilets, fixing broken sinks, carpentry or any of those the highest & best use of your time? 

You can go further with mid stay cleans, grocery delivery, and more.

Does anyone have nay suggestions when it comes down to screening besides the basics.I know some people like to visit potential clients homes to see if they are clean and orderly, but that can be a bit challenging when we are out of state. 

Buyer beware of course but these are folks I routinely use and trust.

My question is, it recommends that tenants maintain certain area on the property there responsibility to keep clean is so any recommendations?

What helped me build confidence were the following:-Listening to as many podcasts including BP as possible-Utilizing the miracle morning routine daily-Read as many real estate investing books that I could get my hands on-Attending as many local real estate meetups as possible-Finding a mentor that was doing what I wanted to do at a larger scale and providing him immense value so he would take me under his wing-Starting my own local real estate meetup-Walk as many properties as possible and make offers.

Trim, at least, needs to be semi-gloss or it won't hold up to cleaning and high-touch.

If we put a tenant in the house we will have to pay the state back their $8,000 of assistance.Loan Balance: $150KCapital Required to Rent: $10K ($8K to pay out the state and $2K that I put into professional cleaning and new carpets.) 

Tenant stipulates, represents, and warrants that Tenant has visually examined the Premises, and that it is, at the time of this Lease, in good order, repair, and in a safe, clean, and habitable condition.

Also your backyard will probably become the dogs restroom and you need to think about who is gonna clean that up if anyone is.