Research the appropriate laws for your property and follow best practices to avoid any discrimination accusations: use the same criteria for everyone who applies, know what the protected classes are, which questions are legal to ask and which aren't, and only deny applicants for legal reasons etc.

This is a classic case of buying in an area you probably should not have and only appropriate for locals who will go to the property the moment tenant moves out remove all the mechanicals themselves and then re install upon tenant move inwhy anyone wants to own this type of asset is a mystery to me..

RentRedi "stars" it out, so would it be appropriate to ask the applicant again for their SSN?

Please feel free to DM here on BP me if that's more appropriate. 

Trying to protect their cash from inflation or government appropriation. 

Do your research and price appropriately to your market and your competitors.I agree with Michael Baum.My 2 cents,Mike

I would say if you vet the tenants appropriately no dog should commit that much in damages.

They should definitely keep offering a fee and letting it be known in advance, whatever they deem appropriate that will help them sell (2 percent and up in my market although it is always negotiable).

There's a very good chance the issue(s) you face have already been discussed and answered.Ask questions in the appropriate forum.

To determine if the expense should be classified as a capital improvement or a deductible repair, the context of the expense is very important.An example is, if an item of expenditure is part of a general plan of modernization, renovation or rehabilitation to equipment or other business property, it typically must be capitalized even though on its own it would be currently deductible.According to IRS Code, expenses that you must capitalize are those that:Materially increase valueSubstantially prolong useful life (including replacement of deteriorating assets)Adapt the property to a new or different useHowever, you are allowed to deduct expenses and fees for routine maintenance and repairs that help keep the property in efficient operating condition.