My strategy/advice would be to take one vacant unit and renovate it with a light-colored luxury vinyl (waterproof so it can go in kitchens and bathrooms), repaint and do a few small improvements in the unit and try to get a substantial rent increase.

I bought the property for 75k and it appraised at 102k at the time of purchase but I would love to be able to get the appraisal up to 115k-120k if possible.At the moment, the plan is to repaint the property (lots of peeling paint on the outside) and redo two of the bathrooms that drastically needed upgrades. 

All I needed to do was clean out all the junk in the home, put new carpet in upstairs and repaint a couple walls.

repaint, new plumbing, new bathrooms Lessons learned?

And if it is peeling, about how much does it usually costs to scrape and repaint the entire interior of a 1000-1500 sq ft home?

Smell is gone without replacing carpets or repainting.

I have just got the place cleaned out and repainted.

I did offer him a gradual increase and even offer to repaint the apartment, install new flooring, and add a dishwasher but his reply was "I don't want any changes, just leave me on the same price that i'm paying in the last 35 years".His 30 days notice was for Nov 1st. and was served on 09.28.18.

Everything has been recently repainted inside and out.

Besides lost rent, you got to re-paint, re-carpet sometimes, and major fix-up if the tenant is a slob.