I can never get grout to look clean no matter how much I scrub and bleach it.

If so, then additional cleaning is on you.  

I'm not talking about a small problem- I've had notices from the county that weeds were out of control and given me deadlines to clean them up to avoid fines. 

He got a great deal and I got off the hook of having to do a lot of the small clean up items like landscaping and basic interior cleaning.

Dude,  Tim don't clean!  

Since everything else was fine and my file was clean it was just the proving of my payments that was a problem.The higher review approved the loan with me providing a signed affidavit about the living situation.So talk to the underwriter and see if there is any way you can get your file "bumped up" the food chain.

After spending money fixing up a property, I obviously want to make sure the tenants occupying it are not damaging or tearing anything up....whether accidentally or deliberately......or worse still, using my property as a front for some shady illegal activity    (take your pick on that one....the illegal activity that is).I also want to make sure I am on top of the stuff that will break down due to normal wear and tear and stuff that needs regular maintenance.I also want to make sure the tenants are doing their part in up keeping the property as necessary....mowing lawns, shoveling snow from sidewalks and generally maintaining a reasonably clean interior and exterior for their own good and mine.If and when the tenants do tear something up, or something breaks down due to no fault of their own, unless it adversely affects their daily routine, I would think that they most likely would not report it.

Keep your financials clean and squared away at all times.

I'd prime and paint over the rooms as the tenants destroy the wallpaper but I'd try to clean with magic erasers first.  

States have adopted some very harsh rules to make sure Mortgagee's do not neglect properties in foreclosure.