Another vote for the hardwoods.  

It is a historic home, like ours, that would need the hardwood floors refinished, update the kitchen completely, new paint, fix a gasline issue, and do landscaping (estimating $15,000 in repairs).

We don't allow dogs in our upstairs apartment above our commercial building because the flooring is hardwood and it causes way too much noise.

I'm wondering if spending $1k on covering hardwood floors with vinyl would go a long way? 

But, applicants always asked if we had any units with laminate or hardwood floors.  

If you buff out the hardwood floor it will look brand new!

Personally, I'd always splurge for flooring and not a new fad color - just a nice traditional color hardwood-style flooring (laminate is fine). 

So, white appliances, white paint, traditional colors as far as hardwood flooring types of flooring, won't do you wront.

Hardwood.

I have done extensive research over the past several months in regards to housing components (sewer systems, plumbing, siding, HVAC, electrical, roofing... what is necessary and what isn't, at what year does it need replacing, hardwood vs. engineered wood flooring, circuitry, drain lines etc. etc.), how to property analyze a market within your farm area, what to look at when running comps, how to properly schedule a SOW so it stays on track (or as "on track" as reality will allow!