I factor any additional payouts (pet fee, early/late check out) as part of the gross revenue. 

You have to keep in mind that there will be tax benefits and appreciation in addition to your cash flow.

They have to cover their lodging , eating out , and travel time in addition to any other expenses . 

I'm so thankful that I decided to hold.It's a great perk that your employer will cover rents for you, but what happens when that period is over?

Additionally, negotiating with buyers directly demands a level of expertise and emotional detachment that might be difficult for homeowners with strong connections to their property.

If in your contract with the builder you made it conditional on inspections (including a radon inspection) and completed the inspection within the due diligence time period, I would think you should be able to back out of the contract without paying any additional costs.

For mortgage debt, the following additional requirements must be met:the party making the payments is obligated on the mortgage debt,there are no delinquencies in the most recent 12 months, andthe borrower is not using rental income from the applicable property to qualify.

Something we are currently cautious of is since this would be our first tenant, we are taking on an additional amount of risk due to credit & background would be unknown.

In a few years you can use the built up equity to purchase additional properties. 

These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.