What I learned in the process is that this is NOT an ordinary management company. 

Also note that if the sale is as a flipper, this would not be eligible for the IRS installment sale method as the installment sale is not eligible for ordinary income property. 

You can generally use the deposit for cleaning, repairs, and unpaid balances on rent, utilities, etc.You need to educate yourself on what is "ordinary" wear-and-tear and what is considered abuse and neglect.

Same goes along the other fields; patios, bathrooms, bedrooms, porches, fireplaces.Anyone got any advice?

Earned income must be "earned"; such as real estate agent earning commissions for selling a property, consultant working on a client's project & earning a fee for that, insurance agent earning commissions for selling an insurance policy, real estate investor buying/fixing/flipping a property & earning short term gains from the sale which would be considered an ordinary income and you will owe SE tax on, etc.

Conquering fear of the unknown is what makes the extraordinary stand apart from the ordinary.  

If there is a deck or patio that looks to be sagging or poorly constructed, it could have been built without a permit (not inspected and not done properly) call the building department as ask of there is anything you may need to know about that specific property. there could be outstanding fines.  

(In the Lease, the property leased, including furniture and appliances, if any, is called "the Premises"):HURRICANE PANELS (32), REFRIGERATOR, RANGE, DISHWASHER, MICROWAVE, WASHER, DRYER, CEILING FANS, PATIO FURNITURE, OUTDOOR BUTANE GAS FIVE ELEMENT BARBEQUE UNIT, SPRINKLER CONTROLLER, WINDOW TREATMENT.May be I should also note serial numbers where appropriate?

If possible include a patio area by the garden so they can show off their environment chops to their hipster friends.

If you have a stout W2 you might want a break-even property so you're limiting ordinary income tax exposure.