Lower Maintenance - downsizing typically reduces the amount of labor required to maintain the home because there is less area available to clean.

He cleaned it up and listed it as 1,900 SF;however, only 925 SF is recognized by the county.

Such as maintaining the garden, cleaning the wood stove, winterizing the windows etc. 

Green roofing? 

After foreclosure, I cleaned up the house and sold to a retail buyer.

Cleaned everything , sprayed inside and out, scattered bait outside....problem solved.2) we state in the description that our place is less than a mile from downtown, and an easy walk or Uber ride.

That does not include all other fee, keep in mind that STR property managers deal with the high turnover, maintenance, repairs, cleaning, dealing with all the furniture, appliances, services like cable, internet,  and all other amenities including pools if you have one. let me know if you need a referral to a STR property manager or if you have any other questions.  

I would suggest starting with "Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Turner and "Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat" by David Greene. 

But, I knew that I could clean up the mess. - I spent seemingly countless Phoenix Summer Day filling the bag and bags of trash.

I had a 23 year old girl ask me how do you clean a toilet?