Some tenants mail a check, some like to drop it off in person [at our store] and one uses his bank's online banking system to pay all his bills, but his bank and our bank don't play well together, so his bank issues a check and mails it for him.

Its a marketing strategy many grocery stores use to entice people to buy more. 

Scott @ http://www.biggerpockets.com/store.

Your voice mail system might have a separate "vacation message" which you can have stored auxiliary to your main message, simply select it any time you go on vacation.Personally, I would prefer not to give my contractor's number to a renter.  

They sell deadbolts at box stores or at family dollar for 5 or 10 dollars and take maybe 5 minutes to install.

I used to like Dollar Stores when they had rental increases in the primary term.

They're considered inventory, just like a shoe store.  

Depending on the estimated value of belongings determines if/how long you have to store it.In your case they both gave notice so it is easy to determine their intent.  

Also, WalMart now offers a store to store money transfer option for amounts up to $900. 

Personally, I use energy and eat so the inflation I experience at the gas station and the grocery store is much higher than the “official” number.