Would it look improved with sanding, perhaps staining and then sealing? 

If for example is see stains on the carpet I write "5 one inch red stains two feet in front of the master bath door" rather than "stains on the carpet." 

Repaint it a striking, tasteful color, or sand it down and stain it.

Fellow college friends rented rooms so we went with the cheapest carpet from recycled Pop bottles & the $37 whole house install but they got us on the stairs.You wouldnt believe the stains that came out by steam cleaning.Still in good shape 4 yrs later.

Would you stain the cabinets or paint them?

Looking at buying a duplex in my area, going to see it in person this weekend, but from the photos I can see that one of the bathtubs is quite rust stained.

I no longer have to worry about whether the guy stained my deck or blew out my sprinklers.

If you have a lot of rapid check ins, you will notice something is broken or stained later and have NO idea who did it.

Walking through the home my first time was exciting for it had many opportunities – smoked in for years, old gross carpet, wood paneling walls, no light fixtures in half the rooms, sloping floors, minor water damage in the ceiling, old smoke stained acoustic ceiling tiles, etc.However the foundation was in good condition, roof was replaced 2 years ago, water heater last year, plumbing and electrical both updated, and a 20 year old furnace.As my realtor described the property – “it needed a lot of lipstick.”

Seal it with all with oil based primer/ stain blocker and then start rebuilding!