Additionally, each market commands different costs, to reach those goals.For example... you pick 3 comps to decide what finishes are needed to hit appraisal "x" via the pics you found on Google.

This is the eleventh commandment. 

Property that commands a $5k rent tag should attract tenants that can afford a $5k deposit.

(To know if you can increase rents, you need to find out what the competition are renting their units for and why are they potentially commanding a price higher than yours.

The good ones will charge more for their services because they can command that.

Patlive can be pricey ($1 or so a minute) but they are really good at what they do and command the prices they charge.

Right now, I'm on the middle of a significant development that will by necessity need to be at the very high end of what I've seen, but I think it will be able to command more so I'll offer higher....Generally speaking, I've found this approach to bring in really high quality tenants who stay for several years, or more.

With that said I like quality rentals that I can command higher rent and get better tenants.

I’m currently a Company Commander of a combat engineer company and have been away from my family training for 3 months will an immediate follow on deployment to Kuwait for the last 8 months.

If they are an active stock market investor, they know how to command 10-12%.