- seasonal decoration; absence of xmas decoration etc is a bad sign, people have lost pride- smells and sounds- people outside, especially on a nice weekend, who is outside, what are they doing?

Added some decor and fixtures, established AirBnb / VRBO accounts, hired a cleaning service, found a reliable handyman.

We did the design (including the glass wall), but we used a service to decorate and pick out furniture.  

Charles Always a good idea to cap fireplace gas valves & ban tenants from using it for anything other than decoration.

I would seriously suggest you binge watch something like Restaurant Impossible or Hotel Impossible ... the stuff that their designers do with ONLY some paint and some decorative trim pieces is insanely brilliant.

Look at the improvements; have  they been updated or is it 1980’s decor.  

I used Floor and Decor for the flooring and tile and backsplashes and a direct supplier for the granite.  

It looks like it is attached to the decorative metal scrolling on the porch railing, so even though the image is grainy and dark, I don't think there is any damage to the property.Before approaching the upstairs tenant, I will have a face-to-face conversation with the downstairs tenant. 

I'm looking at a similar deal, where the owner is in the process of having it decorated and furnished.  

This has worked really well also. 6 months after I implemented these policies, the "worst" tenant in the building was taking pride in the exterior of the building; picking up trash, hanging up halloween decorations, sweeping etc.