But given I've paid for snow removal like once ever, I don't know what I should offer someone who is not a "pro" and already has an idea of their rate. 

They have no way to force removal, other than to pay off the loan on a home they no longer own. 

I'm considering new floors, fixtures, countertops, windows, removing popcorn ceilings, etcetera.

Unlike some buyers, I ALWAYS go look at the properties before the sale and discovered that the vacant lot had an active railroad track on it and therefore was unbuildable, and would remain unbuildable until the railroad removed their track. 

In New Hampshire, title laws are strict, so we couldn’t move forward without obtaining a signature from a living heir.The title company dug deep and eventually located a distant relative—a niece of the deceased owner, two generations removed.

Assuming your property is in Utah (like your profile indicates), here's the state law from a basic internet search:In Utah, a tenant who abandons a rental property without notice is liable for the lesser of the following: The rent remaining on the leaseThe rent plus the difference between the fair rental value and the agreed-upon rentThe cost to restore the property to its original conditionThe landlord can also remove the tenant's belongings and sell them if the tenant doesn't claim them within a reasonable time.

They recently split up and the wife is asking to be removed from the lease agreement.

What I don't like is seeing the removal of peoples options and freedoms to self select and engage in what they want to do. 

To add value to the property, we undertook extensive renovations including the removal of over 40 yards of trash, installation of a new septic system and wall-hung boiler, and a new well pump.

Getting the rate back down to remove the incresed portion from the cash out refiance.