I don't really care too much whether they stay or go as I don't anticipate any downtime or repairs (perhaps some light touch-up on paint and some cleaning).

My only downtime is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

If your model can't wait the market out, those are the folks that get hurt in down times.  

Lots of breaks, down time, sometimes work is done and you still have to be there.

I know I can sit and wait for a no pet tenant but hate down time.

I agree with @Ujwal Velagapudi in asking that it be delivered vacant.If that is not possible, I would anticipate the downtime and cost of evictions, even without a lease. 

There are ways to do it but without cash reserves chances are slim of surviving the down times.

Typically the eviction process and down time for lost rent is not fully understood.

In order to completely rehab our personal residence I had to became a full time contractor for close to 20 months (felt like 60 months)   Luckily there was a slow down time in RE investing (when folks line up to buy every listed house) so I had time available to me to do this.  

I've done very well for myself and made a lot of money, but real estate has it's cycles and right now is a down time.