We did this by using transom windows in certain spots so plenty of light can shine through.

Be sure to tweak the lease where needed, so for example, your tenant is responsible for establishing utilities with Seattle City Light, etc.  

This kind of stuff puts me in a blind rage and makes me want to flip my desk over and set the building on fire.

Can anyone shed light on this?

Some easy things you can do is put new matching door hardware throughout the home, new bathroom fixtures, light fixtures, etc and paint.

So it makes it feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

On a more standard rehab, where I am replacing drywall, floors, and doing light interior remodeling, this will likely not be the case, right?  

Harwood House, Hedwig House, Horizon House (yeah, the names, LOL).I've called Horizon House in DelCo and MontCo each two times and left messages that were never returned, despite the "front desk" person telling me that they're always desperate for landlords.Someone from Hedwig House contacted me from one of my listings, brought a prospective tenant to look at the unit, and said she'd take it. 

These scumbags always get off way too light......."

But if you are some thankless middle income desk jockey, who just wanted to move up from 1600 square feet to 4600 square feet and have a boat, and have two cars in the driveway the size of the space shuttle, and if the loan screws up well, se la vi!