The refinance talk was the hardest, this was the main boss battle.  

Or could I be setting myself up for too much of a headache purchasing a property in a land battle?

I would stick in some English Lavender right now as it should be in bloom until Sept/Oct. and will have a bright purple color- avoid boxwood bushes as they smell like cat urine. 

Since the market shifted, I've moved to other markets around the country instead of fighting an uphill battle.

How will you differentiate yourself from the people twice your age that have bought/sold their own homes many times, know what it's like to be a functional member of a community, raised children, owned businesses, worked a 30-year career in corporate America, lived through the housing crisis of 2008, and earned more than a few battle scars in life?

Once you remove the existing flooring if there’s pet smells ask here on the forum but I believe you want something like oil based Kilz paint to paint the sub floor with to encapsulate the smells.

Fresh paint smell is like a new car smell and I believe that makes it more appealing to tenants.If they keep the grass too high, I don't see it as an image of me.  

Trust me, I spent a year in battle and ultimately courts did not agree with your point.

The walls will need to be painted with killz to get rid of the smell.

not familiar with them but if you have to pay someone 10K for training and coaching just to buy from their list, something really smells.