get it really clean and wire brush it or use some kind of chemical to lighten/brighten it?

Awesome stuff, very easy to roll or brush on with no streaks.

You can dramatically change a bathroom by going from brushed nickel to oil rubbed bronze or like the picture in your example, gold to any other finish easily later on.Some ideas I personally have done and love:Heated floors.  

Cabinets can be especially difficult as the different grains in the wood and the frames themselves can make the brush marks stand out.

Wouldn't fly with the MRS since everything else was brushed nickel.

The tenant painted all the wall edges in this color with a 2-inch brush, lining out out all the walls, corners AND of course the crown moulding in this 90-year-old property.

I like the strategy of showing them the lease & them brushing the topic of eviction.

come on.With that, brushed nickel in some rooms, chrome in others.. and brass?

The walls need a good brush down with a broom and the ceiling for some cobwebs.That being said, while it isn't a large space we'd love ideas on how we can make this space a little more inviting for our tenants. 

He probably didn't wake up one day and while brushing his teeth think "I'll put up the partnership's property as collateral for that deal I'm doing on Main Street.