I'm forgetting his name, but I'll find it for you.I know about renting to grad students, if I can be of help there.As far as fixing up your places, perhaps you could include photos if you want ideas for cheap curb appeal fixes.  

(they hate them in most nice single family neighborhoods)  If a blade of grass is 1/8" over, I get a letter. if the garbage cans are not taken off the curb promptly, I get a letter.

Adam Pierce if you put her on an official lease,you are giving her tenants rights which she can use against you if things go to blazes with her.You need to come to an understanding and put it in writing.If you want the right to kick her to the curb with little notice,you need to make her sign an agreement stating she is living there for free and has no tenants rights to remain in the property upon being asked to vacate asap.

It is definitely lacking curb appeal, but it was a price that we could afford.

It's your investment and curb appeal - - don't nickel and & dime this decision!

Also does 5% curb bad habits or would a 10% be more effective.

I would consider it curb appeal for the country.

So, if you think $20/hour is fair, you can reasonably ask for another 3 hours or so of his time for yardwork, hauling garbage cans to the curb, etc.Anyway, just a thought.

All,I am looking to buy my first investment property and every time I talk to the listing agent or the owner of the property, they always say "Curb Offers only".  

So in talking about driving for dollars, I always hear about the common signs of distressed properties like an over grown lawn or the windows being boarded up but recently I've heard about a lesser known sign where you look for trashcans being out on the curb while the neighbors trashcans are brought in.