Oh I would so love to bring back a load that is just washed, and smells fresh. 

If you keep this policy the only thing you are doing is creating additional battles that don't need to be had.

Everything else has to be refreshed : Floors (carpeted, heavily spoiled and cat urine odor) Ceilings dry-wallWalls dry-wallElectrical is out of date (knot and tube all over, electrical panel needs replacement) Risks: Sanitization (cat urine smell, potential for pest problems)Structural integrity not checked (unable to check in a timely fashion due to deadline)Evidence of water damage on main floor ceiling, extent of damages unknownNo smell of mold in basement but knowing the city history of flooding, this is uncertainPlumbing looks recent but it was hard to be absolutely sure of this assertionThe reason I decided against in the end : too many unknowns.

I need to celebrate small triumphs, be present for others, thank others, allow my mind to take a break, keep my mind more open, laugh more, and smell the roses. 

Unfortunately, I think you'd lose this battle and are probably better off fixing it.

Throughout the time I’ve spent looking in Charleston, I could smell the opportunity but not fetch it, yet.

I have been inside the apartment several times to pick up rent and to fix a bathroom fan and a jammed window on another occasion and every time the apartment smells there is a sink full of dirty dishes old food laying around and just overall dirty...

My good buddy from college wasn't so lucky, he got jumped by a Grizz out fishing one day on the Russian River, didn't have time to draw and the bear chewed his face off (he survived just barely but lost his eyesight, sense of smell, entire face and part of skull, spent a year in the hospital undergoing many surgeries, etc.).  

My advise to you is to just keep at it, it’s an uphill battle but just keep going.Best of luck.

Way to jump in, half the battle in my opinion is getting into the game.