Rent = clean, safe and 'tenant-hardened'. 

If you are curious, search the forums for "hardening rentals" or similar terms.

Either they need to be renovated as durable, hardened rentals or they need to be renovated as high-value for-sale properties.

Also often overlooked, but something about taking pride in DIY work on your own properties hardens your work ethic and makes you appreciate your investments much more.

1/4” drill bit and a drill will get you in, unless it’s a higher end schlage some of them are hardened or have a hardened plate around the knob.

I was hardened very fast and had good back-up, but I think once we make that transition things go very quickly from struggle to nuisance.There are many of us who don't make the transition- They are very upset with a person for breaking lease terms, but they are frightened of holding them accountable.

Does anyone know how to remove hardened joint compound from bathroom sink basins and tubs?

All you do is send them a 30 day written notice that starting in 30 days, all plumbing stoppages will be the responsibility of the tenants.You say that all lines are currently clear and the only way that a drain gets stopped up is if the tenant puts something down the drain that should not be there.Note: If you have apartment buildings, drains are pretty much on the landlord, unless you actually pull a GI Joe out of the toilet throat.The trouble with billing in an apartment, is that apartment A might put bacon grease down the drain and it hardens after it passes 2 other apartments.

Your focus must be on matching (not exceeding) the expectations of tenants in the area and on hardening your rentals against problems and damage.

I think nothing makes an area come back quicker than it being such a warzone that even the hardened criminals feel the need to move on to have a little security.