As to hard starting it's likely the gas (especially today's 10% ethanol laced gasoline) that due to engine heat has boiled-off after the engine has shut down and cooled off. How to tell? Pull the air cleaner after an overnight (or a few weeks) of sitting. Pump the throttle (assume: carbed) a few times and see if gas immediately shoots out of the shooters. If not and it takes a few pumps to get ANY gas out of the shooters, that's the likely issue.
In rare cases, an old fuel pump, all of which have a rubber anti-drainback flap inside, can allow gas in the line to drain down right after shutdown. Can't really diagnose this one save for replacing an old pump, a great insurance policy anyway.