For a good tenant that has paid on time and was keeping the place in good clean condition I probably would have just eaten the charge.

Its like the Airbnb that says $20 a night but when you click its $100 cleaning fee. 

Just be the absolute best host you can be for the first year -- communicate clearly and quickly, make sure cleaning is top-notch, make sure all amenities work (hot tub is hot, TV remotes have batteries, etc. etc.)

. ==== Projected Income ====**Off Season**-$4,000/Month Rent Period: September - May (7 Months) Projected Income: $28,000**Summer 1**-$8,000/Week Rent Period: June (4 Weeks)Projected Income: $32,000**Summer 2**-$8,500/WeekRent Period: July-September (12 Weeks) Projected Income: $102,000**Optional** (Basement Apartment)-$2,000/Month -Rent Period: Year Round Projected Income: $24,000TOTAL PROJECTED INCOME: $186,000 ==== Operating Cost ====-Mortgage: $84,000 ($7,000/Month) -Utilities: $36,200Gas $6,000 ($500/Month) Electricity $6,000 ($500/Month) Internet $2,400 ($200/Month) Garbage $5,000 (Estimate) Pool $4,000 ($250/Week)Landscaping: $4,000 -Mowing: $2,400 ($150/Week)  -Clean Ups: $1,600 (Spring & Fall)-Weekly Turnovers: $8,800 ($550/Week)==== Legal Cost ====Summer Rental Fee: $20,100 (15% of $134K)Sandwich Rental Tax: $6,855 (15% of $45,700) NET PROFFIT: $38,845.00

Keep your prices just a hair lower than your competitors for the first month or two until you get some good reviews, then raise them to market rate.

Have them clean up, Paint, and learn. 

Someone called me today (probably his wife) and said Preston has been trying so hard to clean up his image and was upset by this post.

Short term will make you more money, but require a lot more management (new tenant every 3 days, turn over, cleaning, etc).  

I just maybe have been lucky but the age does not scare me if the price is right and the inspection comes back clean. 

When I looked at the house they kept it very clean.