I put the home depot plastic mini-blinds so there is at least something.

Trust me, anything plastic will be your "gold" and for more ugly it can look, you will love it on the long run!  

The 2nd contractor I had looked at it is now out of the picture as he just lost his right hand man due to emergency surgery that will put him out for 10 weeks.

If you buy a Moen faucet at HomeDepot its feather light and made entirly out of plastic; you can get the exact same Moen at a plumbing supply house made of metal.I am usually over $3 per SF for top quality material.

@John Teachout, last summer a neighbor and I, remodeling separate bathrooms, successfully stacked two wax rings -- one with the plastic insert and another without -- when reinstalling toilets that had been on sheet vinyl and are now on tile. 

So many, where to start....The most recent(about two years ago) had plastic tub half filled with cat poop...yeah about 30-40 pounds of cat poop...scooped it right out of the litter box and into this tub, she just never emptied this tub.

If there's any question, I would wash it, seal it, cover it with 6 mil plastic and then go down with the new carpet and padding.Spraying/drying does not "remove" anything.

There should be a clear instruction on this addressed in the Lease or with your Tenant.  3) Yes, these are fine, and most times look good, most of the ones for exterior use are also made of shatter proof bulbs which are plastic, so no worries on bulbs shattering, if this is a worry of yours then just allow residents to us 'exterior use' string lights only. 

Put on top of stain, cover with plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out.

This house has an overhead wire crossing my neighbor's back yard, attached to my garage roof, wire touches the rolled roofing(what's left of it),  then attaches to my house,  runs down the siding and into a plastic box.It's my understanding that they have an easment,  but where does that easment end?