The problem with carpet pad in a rental is that it holds/traps liquid (water, soft drinks, beer, pet urine) that the idiot tenants are not smart enough to clean up.

You don't need a hard number but you should be going for a soft commitment of fair market value for the property and condition.

My painter simply brushed and vacuumed it and then put on at least two coats of paint.

Go back in a couple days and do the same thing.As far as the yard, clean out any piles of leaves or brush.  

While I agree with a lot of what the article talks about, I think the author was painting with a very broad brush.

Torch, brushes, sandpaper, solder, and flux.  

With a W2 employee, you'll have a plethora of soft costs and responsibilities that you won't have with a 1099.  

Then use gel stain, first on the area, then on the very last coat lightly, with a nice brush, the whole side panel.  

After reading this stuff I think I will not offer the free months rent anymore and charge market rate, in a soft rental market I don't think the free month works, and will just attract deadbeats that will cost you more anyway.

Markets are cyclical and US stocks have been getting expensive, despite the soft economy.