Open floor plans are highly desirable and can increase the value of your property.Updated Flooring: Replacing worn-out carpets or outdated flooring with hardwood, laminate, or tile can make a significant difference.

The house is 5 years old (I bought it new) with brand new pre finished hard wood flooring I put in along with a fresh paint job.

Example one SFH purchased for $48000 remodel included new kitchen, new appliances, new flooring through most of the home(original hardwood in areas not replaced) new bathroom, rebuilt deck, completely rebuilt porch to include new roof.

Putting in a new patio door, new kitchen, bath, and refinishing hardwood floors.

All furnishings have a lifespan but pets shorten it (think rugs, couches, hardwood floors, etc).Sheets and towels: We know the pains of replacing linens especially since we use white linens.

I have to fix some pet-damaged hardwood flooring this weekend myself for a pet that was never authorized (which was new beautiful flooring before the damage).I saw that airlines were recently allowed to clamp down on emotional support animals so hopefully the same will carry over to landlords eventually....

I've DIYed 2 hardwood floors just like that. 

Sure, you could put some things on the back burners (say, adding central air vs window units or updating wood windows to vinyl or replacing butcher block countertops with granite or at least formica or holding off on refinishing semi-OK hardwoods, etc.).

Carpet should last more than 1-2 years but I'd replace with some sort of pre-finished hardwood or even tile if possible. 

I'm leaning toward the laminate flooring that looks like hardwood.