Then we sealed the wood flooring with the Zinsser primer designed for pet urine.

Put what i am saying in an envelope and seal it up, then open it in 1-2 years and tell me how wrong i was. 

If you are called into court, bring the sealed envelope as proof you tried to mail it to them.

There are tenant rights groups starting in Long Beach and then spreading RENT CONTROL gardena huntington, santa ana, seal beach, fountain valley etc.

Concrete or pavers would be low maintenance, but you can still get 20+ years out of a pressure treated deck if stained and sealed regularly. 

In addition, sealed or expunged records may not be disclosed."

Final Note: Many contractors will offer to waive or “discount/absorb” the deductible in order to help seal the deal.

Another realtor and I did some negotiations on the deck and sealed the sale.

Great ideas above, just to condense everything and add a couple more ideas:Low flush toilets and Low flow fixtures (showerheads, etc.)LED Lights and more energy efficient common area lights, if applicable.Replace windows with energy efficient windowsImprove insulation in the attic and crawl spacesRecaulk windows and make sure all doors are sealing well when closedUpgrading appliances, water heaters, etc., if they are extremely energy efficient.If higher quality property, consider installing nest thermostats to help with energy savings since tenants won't care if they aren't paying the billI'm sure there are many more but those are a great place to start and get the bulk of your savings. 

I think that book finally sealed the deal and made the opportunities and concept in REI more concrete for her.