I recently bought an apartment complex and 1 thing I was not prepared for is the amount of trash, mainly furniture, I accumulate.

My 6.5yo draws floor plans for his forts, including furniture placement.  

They will--like children who break their toys during a temper tantrum--eventually realize that lashing out in anger and frustration does nothing to solve their problems, and now they no longer have their toys.

From your lessons learned, I'm curious what items in hindsight would you have spent more money on in the beginning to avoid the trouble of having to replace it given how rough renters can be on your furniture, carpet, etc.

I will my portfolio to my children and when they go to sell the portfolio the taxes are basically starting over for them. 

Sometimes they leave furniture behind but you can typically tell if they've abandoned it because they'll leave crap furniture behind but take anything of value (flatscreen, computer, clothing, and T-bone steaks).

I’ve been hitting up craigslist and have two storage units pool of free furniture etc. but I’m looking at everything I need plus the cost of new countertops and lighting and looking at my bank and was left after I’ve paid my down paymentand I’m starting to get worried on how I’m going to make these places look great and be competitive in my area without having to take a loan.

My wife and I along with our two children are pretty rooted in our current community and love it there, but are very interested in REI. 

Plus, people have a hard time seeing around other people furniture/junk/clutter and envisioning themselves living in a place.  

Since she is keeping the house and the has had the benefit of using it for her adult children to live for the last 10 years.