(i.e. initial decorating and painting, bookings, rate structures, marketing, bookkeeping housekeeping, etc)? 

Painting and flooring are super easy.

Patch it and paint it.

A cash-flowing, large lot, alley loaded duplex that needed a new roof, painted and new floors.

Security Deposit: 2600Lease states no smoking/painting walls/no hanging things on wallsTenants have moved out and have left two truck loads of garbage to be removed.Damaged doorPainted walls which got on the ceiling and trim Lots of holes on the walls throughout the houseDamage from windows being left open constantly Weed was clearly smoked in the house (smell throughout the place) so we need to deep cleanWater bill wasn't paid so I had to turn back on utilityMissing keyQuoted costs:$450 junk removal (some furniture)$935 for damaged doors/windows, painting cleaning$30 for utility turn onTenants were only there for a year before moving out so a lot of this is beyond normal wear and tear. 

It becomes their home and they can paint the walls any color they want.So, sometimes, it isn't just about the interest rate. 

I will also be doing all the cosmetic things you can think of: paint, flooring, bathroom reno, kitchen reno, so I am open to carpenter or design suggestions.  

If they are dinged or scuffed you can touch them up with white appliance paint.

or recently - "how much to paint my rental?

However I did note that houses are mostly really old, e.g. 100 years or older... any idea if this poses challenges in things like lead paint presence, outdated wiring, rusty plumbing, etc., or have many of the homes already been updated?