Cabinet painting and painting trim can be trickier than painting walls or ceilings.

Many days passed, and the tenant was having a barbecue in the backyard (with the dangerous tree), and a gardener and the PM showed up to trim the tree. 

You can trim a bush but don't cut it down and destroy it.Giving consent also takes out the implied use Matthew was speaking about, there is nothing implied as specific consent has been given.

I drove up with ladders and painting supplies then bought paint and  hired a couple of local boys that I had lined up thanks to craigslist, they painted the house in a day, I also had them pick up the branches and other stuff around the yard along with trimming some over grown bushes in the back yard.

Maybe you need them to do some other work around the house like clean the windows, shampoo the carpet, declutter, trim tree branches, etc.  

As to your list, these are my personal opinions, from a tenant's point of view, as I now rent:Yes to removing the popcorn ceiling.Don't paint white - you can paint the ceiling & trim white, but paint the walls an off-white, like bone.  

I keep her nails well trimmed and the floor is fine--and I'm fussy about the condition of my property.Ask your prospective tenant about the dog's nails.

I would take detailed photos and date them, of every door, floor, wall, wood trim, vent covers, anywhere dog or cat could reach or destroy.  

Yesterday I trimmed the carpet where the blue paint was spilled.

I use Medici grey from Walmart for the walls and Nova White from Walmart (Glidden Complete 2 in 1 primer stain blocking) on the trim.