For the tankless system that I would need (I want an outdoor unit in order to re-claim as much closet space as possible inside) I have received 4 bids ranging from just a hair over 2k all the way to 3.5k.  

Do a sample calculation (with taxes, some amount of vacancy, cleaning, furniture, etc) and determine what nightly/monthly rate you would need to make a profit.

Urban living can afford the same outdoor experiences as suburban or rural (just come to Denver and hang out at one of our many parks on a weekend for beautiful trees, open fields, and PLENTY of space to set up and hang out however you want - and you don't have to take care of a massive yard to get all that enjoyment!

I live in CO so there's not much we can do but make arrangements to have all of the patio furniture brought in from the balconies. 

You'll still get marks under large pieces of furniture but you can use their pens to fill it in.  

The straw that broke the camels back was when they removed a tenants left behind furniture and charged me $850 to do it without my permission.

If you're short on cash, your marketing my be walking neighborhoods and putting out door hangers, postcards, or handwritten letters. 

I believe they sell something to "lime" furniture that you wipe on and wipe off, leaving a white residue that might have the same look.  

This could probably work out for them, yeah they'd start of with no equity in exchange for keeping that 3.5% and using for say replacing furniture.

There was old food, and abandoned furniture.