Congratulations on getting your foot in the STR door, starting out is always a challenge to new host but dont worry you will get there. 

Granite or Quartz on all counter tops including bathrooms.. our up stairs is 9 foot.. and our single levels are 10 foot to 14 foot which NO other builder does in a subdivision type build only custom homes over 1 mil would have that.. flooring is engineered hard wood.. custom cabinets with soft close on all doors in the house..

Everyone who steps inside is wowed by the space and in awe of the 2-story wall of windows surrounding a 140+ foot redwood tree.

The larger ones are much cheaper per square foot but the rents for the 1,700 to 2500 sq ft cabins have come down as have their prices. 

I am wanting to connect or shadow with interior designers, decorators, or even project managers, just so I can get my foot in the door and understand all aspects of a construction process. 

They would have to foot the bill and also pay for the removal (up front) - because maybe they will work the disposal correctly, but there will be a next tenant - so that decision could have expensive consequences for them.When you present them with the true cost of install and removal, it may not be that important anymore..

What that turned into was places that should rent for $750 (for example) getting $1300 or more in rent and section 8 put their foot down and said, if you want top end rents your property better be upgraded top end.

As you do this more often, you'll be able to keep a spreadsheet of per square foot prices for materials and labor to get things done and you'll be able to estimate this yourself.

The best will often ask for nothing until they set foot on the jobsite and really start with site set-up and demo. 

or is this a more historical foot trafic area?