Hi,
We went last year for a 1-year trip abroad and we rented the house out. It turned out all good for us. We had a very nice renter who not just paid the rent but took good care of our house and our cars (starting up the cars once a month, reparking them in a safe place when huricane came etc.) We didn't put an advertisement in the paper but my husband put out an email at the local college where he works and one of the instructors on a one year assignment rented the place. We were also flexible (she only rented 9 month out of the year) and didn't ask more than to cover our house related expenses (we don't have a mortgage, so that means just utilities, lawn mowing, insurance and taxes). I think she got a good deal and our house was well taken care off, and cost us no money while we were away, so we are very pleased. (Another reason we didn't sell is because I'm not a US citizen but a permanent resident and since we went abroad for a long time we thought it would be good upon reentering the US to have some property on my name in the US).
I hope this helped. Good luck on your 1 year trip!