Pick nice colors for the pillows, rugs, bedspreads, decor items and art work so that the room is not boring.   

paint it, put cheap rugs in, fix a leaky faucet, change some switch plates and replace the crappy drapes.

I did exactly that and the PM lied like a rug, like I knew they would.

Add pops of color with plants, rugs, and art.

Prospective tenants cant picture the VCT floor with area rugs.

I wonder if it could really intensify the competition in the future?

Eric,    My advise to you/your friend is to actually take a walk through the property, and try to fix the easy stuff, missing door knobs, replace light bulbs, fix the gutters, vacuum the rugs, clean the place, deodorize etc...  

I suggest for snow on the ground makes sure you have a rug in the entry to wipe feet and I keep something to wipe up any wet spots.

The layoffs intensified my desire to become financially independent via real estate and determine my own destiny which I am striving toward now.

I have found that in the extremes of abundance or scarcity, the morals of the user are intensified, or perhaps they are simply more easily seen.