Yes they were living there even though the house was a wreck!

A total train wreck that was definitely investor and cash only.

I think those landlords think that the bad tenants won't wreck the place if they have to pay all that money up front.Guess what -- IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK! 

It wrecked me at the time mentally since I'd never so much as paid a late fee on anything the first 35 years of my life, but in hindsight it was smart having that money unsecured. 

If the tenets wreck your place they won't be helping pay to fix it.

Wrecking bars/ pry bars.A 4' or 6' ladder.

But, I might allow a portable raised bed like these:http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/vegtrug-ra...http://www.homedepot.com/p/Keter-Easy-Grow-Elevate...That way, the patio or ground under them doesn't get wrecked or plowed up, etc.  

Show the depreciation for carpets in your calculation, if they cost $1500 and have a lifetime of 7 years, the tenant wrecked them in 2 years, then claim for the 5/7th of the $1500.

Depends on the subfloor and it's condition.If I have a hardwood floor, I'll refinish it.If I have a wrecked hardwood floor that I can't bring back, then it's a stick together floating vinyl floor (EC Lock - not easy to find).

Maybe they are going to be great tenants, or maybe they will have loud parties, not mow the grass, make their neighbors hate them, park 6 cars in the street and leave your house a wreck.