Usually not a good idea to give tenants the task of pruning trees and shrubs, as they can destroy those in no time.

It's not like the yard is overgrown, destroyed, ect.

If a tenant destroys cabinets that are 10 years old, you would charge the depreciated value of the cabinets, not the replacement cost.

.• Not destroy, damage, or deface the premises, or allow anyone else to do so.• Not remove any part of the structure, dwelling unit, facilities, equipment, or appurtenances, or allow anyone else to do so.• Use the premises as a place to live, and use the rooms for their intended purposes.For example, the bedroom must be used as a bedroom, and not as a kitchen.94• Notify the landlord when dead bolt locks and window locks or security devices don’t operate properly.95However, a landlord may agree in writing to clean the rental unit and dispose of the trash.96If a tenant violates these requirements in some minor way, the landlord is still responsible for providing a habitable dwelling, and may be prosecuted for violating housing code standards.

However, if the building is destroyed due to a fire or storm your insurance will only pay the cost to rebuild as is and not any extra expense that results from meeting the new codes.

My current plan, would be to pay the mortgage with rent for two years until i graduate, then to keep the property, and offer free rent to a trusted responsible friend that is younger to be a sort of manager and to make sure the other tenants are not destroying the place as they are college kids and see if i could do that for another year or two. and then work to sell the property and have hopefully of made a profit. id say as of right now i'm just dreaming. but do see this as a good learning experience and chance to get my feet wet. although i do not wish to do it if it's is not worth the time. so would this be a possible investment for me or not realistic?

Also this was one of the reasons why I move to another PM company because I felt that my prior one was not looking after my tenants and they were destroying my place.Just as a reference the tenant wanted to buy the property from me but I did not want to sell it so she started to request some repairs which we were attending but then she decided to move and let us know one month in advance......I just feel a bit frustrated especially when my current PM said they would do inspections but they are acting reactively once the tenant leaves and now I have to face all these extra expenses to fix the property again!!

If that's the case then it's cheaper for the tenant to destroy rather than repair.Always, as @Russell Brazil suggested, look at other rentals in your area and see what is customary.  

They become this fiend, this villain that could destroy you and is probably the hardest phase of all the phases.It is during the MOVING PHASE, that you must be cool, have all your wits about you and be prepared, yet still be cordial so as not to enraged the monster that seems to be lurking in your Tenant during the MOVING PHASE (as there is NO ANTIDOTE to calm the savage beast once it takes form).

Like Marcia said, tenants like that will use other means and destroy the asset (your property).