(Mod Bit is cheaper and can last as long or longer) Or perhaps what is there is good enough to prep and do a coating? 

Let's start with the penny and go from there.

Sherman Williams has a good brand of deck stains and if you do decide to stain, I would apply a clear coat over the top of the stain to protect the stain.This will give you a great looking deck that will need to be pressure washed every year to keep a great look.

we invested every penny we had when they market crashed, everyone told us we were crazy and now we have a $3.8mm portfolio with two short term rentals. the bottom line is there is always opportunity its a matter of working the deals and finding off market deals which i get are few and far between. 

If you can time it perfect then congrats I hope you dumped every single penny into houses and enjoy your retirement in a decade. 

My cost, not including the cost for my labor, to clean every home cost not one penny less than $6,000.

I used a public adjuster and it was worth every penny. 

Not looking to ride his coat tails by any means, but I am grateful for his mentorship and to use him as a resource throughout my future career. 

and did 2 coats on the studs.Good luck.

I keep a detailed spreadsheet to the penny for everything spent and by who.