@John WarrenOf the current tenants, I got 1 off Craig's List (Her credit score is higher than mine- never late, plants flowers, shovels the sidewalk, recycles everything so no trash, best tenant evah!!!)

Welcome to the site @Ivy Flowers ! 

It definitely isn't all flowers and sunshine, but there's lots of steps you an take to avoid learning the mistakes yourself.

I got this loan on my 18th Birthday with no co signer and no credit history.

We do multiple things including fresh flowers that always get rave reviews.

Ditch the trash cans and add a bench or flower pot - somewhere for the eyes to stop and be happy.

Next, and almost equally important is two big concrete pots of flowering red geraniums flanking the front door...or some such.

I was a florist.Jan 2008 I negotiated a deal to buy an established flower shop seller financed (I knew zero about flower shops or design). 

For a long term play, if you plant a few plant guilds that sustain one another (a la 3 sisters), especially if they're something nice like fruit trees or flowering trees, I feel like you would attract better tenants/buyers and at the very least set your self apart from your competition since all properties being equal of course I would chose to move into the property that yields free food. 

We would usually do some flower boxes and do some mulch and perennials around the front of the house.