Put a bunch of boxes and crap in that newly converted storage closet. 

I would look at the value of the rentals before you make a decision to see if that makes sense for you.Regarding the furnishings, if you have to pay more for them (again here in FL, properties are generally listed fully furnished and you don't really get a discount to tell people to take the crap out - in fact, I had one guy refuse a good offer because one of my conditions was for them to take their crap!  

Can I charge them fees & rent for storage of their crap? 

Do not buy into the NAR spiel of crap tools.

But the risk to the seller on this deal is immense you have a guy tying up a property who has no ability to close it and then sell it to whoever will give him money and that person could be nefarious get into title rip rents could give 2 craps about the sellers credit etc etc..

Find a rich old guy who has made a crap load of money in real estate.  

Point is, there is a new bar being set and if your not operating up to it, we are going to make your listing look like crap and perform like crap because were putting this out to the potential tenants and who'd you pursue and choose?

Stop with the gadgets, the AI and all the crap out there that offers you "shortcuts" for lead generation.THERE  ARE NO SHORTCUTS.The reason I am successful generating leads and most of you are not is because I did the gaahdamn work, the research, the testing, the tweaking and I perfected this.

Well, what a load of crap.

I would much rather deal with someone like him who knows what they are doing and speaks the truth rather than someone who spews out a bunch of feel good crap just to get your money then disappears..