if you are landscaping out there def. no or few plants.... maybe plastic under rock to  keep water further away (sloped of course)

The host had their personal belongings in the closets, cabinets were stuffed with mismatched and chipped dishes and pots and pans, spice jars and inside cabinets were filthy, no tin foil, plastic wrap, washer/dryer soap.

Keep it protected with some of the plastic wrap protectors until you're ready to show the home.

Modern wire has plastic insulation, which doesn't go bad. 

Now I'm wondering if I should just do better upgrades to a couple of things now and aim for a better clientele (and higher rent) than I thought I might get for my first tenant.For instance, the bathroom had some old plastic tile on the walls. 

I spent $4,000 recently for a problem with a sewer line that ended up being a chunk of plastic lid off the sewer cleanout.

Tell them they don't take plastic and listen to them get out of that one.Get a whoopie cushion and put it under a seat cushion in any public place for your friend to sit on.Kids at Halloween: The best was the old burning bag trick.

I am in nothwest Dallas County and have almost 40 years of experience.It might be because of plastic that a lot of cities made builders do.  

Hang a plastic liner on the shower pole, that costs nothing and looks good/better then nothing,better pictures and talk about the viewCould you use a new vanity in the bathroom and could your mirror be better/  How about your counter top there?

More expensive to replace and harder to modify than modern plastic variety In my opinion these aren't necessarily the deal breakers, as many people successfully own older homes, my friend being one (late 1,800s).