Renting a Florida home out as a seasonal or long term rental

Renting your home out as a seasonal (vacation rental)or long term.

Long-term renters are generally easier to find as there is a shortage of homes for rent. So, if you want to buy something for retirement or a vacation home and rent it out to help your payments-this is typically the easiest way. (Long term rentals are considered to be anything over 6 months, as the tenants don't pay the 11.5% Florida tax) 
Generally long-term rentals should be unfurnished. 
Initially your agent’s company will do a credit check before submitting a lease to you, then with your approval of the lease, they typically collect the first and last months rent plus a security deposit which is typically a months rental amount. 
As to utilities- The tenants generally take the lease to the water, electric, phone and cable people and have the utilities put in their name and of course they pay their own deposits. In most areas of Florida, garbage is included in the tax bill-so there is no separate garbage bill. 
Seasonal rentals. Most residential areas can only rent monthly or 28 days, meaning the owner can only rent the home out 12 times per year. This means about 5 months of income-Jan-Feb-Mar and July-August. There are some April and June monthlies. .
As to what is the best rental situation , that is size, which areas, views, pools, how water and boating accessibility affects rental amounts and the typical rental amounts for both long and short term, plus the fees involved, ask your agent. 
As to extra costs and what is necessary to have a Home as a Rental. 
When you rent your home out you generally need to license it through the County. This costs is typically minimal and your agent’s company should be able to handle the paperwork for you.
The County and the Tax people want the homes licensed so they know where there may be tax dollars coming in. When your home is used as a rental, in effect you are operating the same as a hotel or motel and so they come under their safety guidelines. 
This applies to the Keys but may be the cases statewide: 
Every bedroom and the main living area must have a hardwired smoke detector and there must also be an escape light. This light comes on in case of a power outage-this also must be hardwired. (About $450.00 installed smoke detectors and escape light for a 2/2) 
There also needs to be a professional quality refillable fire extinguisher that is approved by the fire department (about $55.00). This would be the same as you'd find in a restaurant or hotel room. There needs to be a dead bolt on the door that works from the inside and is a different key than the main door. All of these issues help protect your liability in cases of fire/break in. 
When the home complies with all of the above and your agent has a signed contract from you authorizing them as a rental agent, then it can go into the rental pool. 
What about Hurricane preparation?
In the event of an impending Hurricane, a handyman or someone else can be hired to put up the storm shutters, bring in the lawn and patio furniture, etc for a fee-most agents have too many homes for them to do it individually.
*This agreement should be set up in advance by the homeowner and the handyman. Your agent can find someone to do this.