Fairmount Park area has a few blocks with some interesting houses, but I doubt/wonder if any students are staying in those areas. 

Whenever I would come across a new road block I would stop for a few months and try again at a later date instead of figuring out ways to bulldoze through them.

Here in Indy, if someone is giving you feedback based on a property 5 blocks away, they very likely are giving you an apples to oranges comparison.Another thing to consider is that you may be getting conservative feedback.

My wood look paneling was mostly painted throughout in funky colors but nothing filling the grooves so it was obviously paneling.

Then it hit me...I took the tile to the store, had them match a color to it and then reduced the color by 50% and 75%.

You may need to use odor blocking and stain blocking paint on the subfloor, walls, trim.

You will need to experiment with different sized letters, different colored pieces of paper, different colored envelopes, handwritten-looking letters, etc.

wow new color looks great and stands out!

I am not an expert in this area, but I have been told - it doesn't have to be the nicest house on the block, but should fit in and be a fresh looking property.  

What is the address, or if you aren't comfortable with the full address, what block?