Just listed our first rental and still trying to decide how to go about lawn care. 

The $1,000 a month is a bit much though unless he does EVERYTHING, including leases, turnovers, evictions/court, lawn care, etc.

Using market rates (and not current rents) artificially raises the NOI.  

You need to know rent rolls, length of lease, is everybody paying on time, any "discounts" on lease (like lawn care, etc).

Add replacing or fixing a toilet, lawn care, sometimes even insurance and it seems to be most costs would be a higher percent the lower the rental amount. 

Are the roofs, lawns, exteriors all well maintained?

I wouldn't worry about artificial goals set by the internet, just focus on what reasonable for you. 

Yard and lawn: I have been maintaining the yard with bi-weekly maintenance person doing all the year work.

Hazel crest, Harvey, Country Club Hills, Alsip, Oak Lawn, and worth.

After finding out about subletting, a thrashed back yard, domestic violence, broken doors, smashed windows, smoking, melted vinyl on the new kitchen floor, a leaking toilet, a destroyed lawn and on and on....