The way I see it, a Buyer could put the cheap flooring down, fresh paint and could flip it for a fast and easy profit OR just rent it out.

Or would it be better starting fresh?  

To get that fixed it is like $1.80 at Lowes.....So it is all dependent on your perspective.

Your goal is relatively simple, "Make the smartest investment from a cash-flow and/or appreciation perspective with a 10 year time horizon". 

Now, I agree with your agent - a perfect home, nicely staged, freshly painted, landscaped sells a whole lot quicker than one with issues.

There are a lot of people who don't understand that their perspective is just that...theirs!  

As long as nothing surprising pops up towards the end, we should be under budget.New Deck:Floors sanded down:Basement freshly painted and carpeted:Master bedroom in basementAnd just a pic I snapped one morning from the from the deck.

I would have found it a hindrance over the years from the seller's perspective.  

I agree with everyone location and price are the most important factors but from a marketing perspective.

Try finding a different strategy or altering what you want from a returns perspective.