It might be more a matter of fine-tuning your listing than just a shift in the overall market.

If this is a $100K property you may go from believing you have a healthy LTV ratio to being underwater in a matter of 2-3 months.

The fix-up and increased value will not matter to the IRS as long as you sell within a reasonable time frame of the house passing into the estate.

Most advisors consider the two (2) year holding period mentioned above to be very safe, but remember it is your intent that matters. 

Yes, no matter what they tell you it is cumbersome and exhausting switching PMS. 

Context matters: for some apartment buildings that compete head to head with a very similar property just down the street, this may be a good strategy.We rent premium single family homes and I have never offered an incentive.

you always need a good one no matter where you at if you are OOS investing. 

Has anyone had experience with this - in other words - can she simply decline the charge without the credit card company reaching out for investigation into the matter?

Focus on what matters, not on things that have nothing to do with what drives the desired  results.

Is this price differential largely a matter of how high-end you make the finishes?