(This includes deep clean, fresh paint, some new furniture, art and some general improvements to increase the appeal as a vacation rental. ) This is my best skill, inexpensively turning a property from long term to short term rental.

If you use a software designed with landlords in mind you not only get an application that is simpler to use, but one that gives you good tools like a tenant portal (so tenants can make online payments & report issues) plus tools and reports to simplify tax time (think schedule-e specific reports, or electronic 1099 filing).Many of the good tools are going to have a similar rate to Quickbooks though, although they will provide many more useful tools to you and your tenants than QB.  

It's a bit of an art form.

In each case, our managers complete an extensive electronic checklist of items that catalogs the condition of every square inch, appliance, fixture, flooring, paint, etc. both interior and exterior.

In May of 2002 an electronic payment was rejected.

If I’m looking at the metrics @Art Perkitny posted from a buy-and-hold perspective, I’m concerned because median purchase prices are going up faster than rents so cash flow is squeezed.

I also use their lease/electronic signing tool.

Also added a new stove, furnished the place and added our personal touches with Art and Decor. 

The minimum you need to provide tenants is basic toiletries, essentials, but alot of my clients who rent via airbnb also provide food and drinks, aND usually electronics with cable and Internet to maximize profits.  

Every now and then if they live in another country or they are older with no electronics, no property, no internet it can be a bit more difficult.