On the other side the "devils" are section 8 tenants who don't keep their property clean or in good repair (holes in the wall / broken doors / damaged cabinets / etc.) and seem to be the black sheep of the neighborhood.  

If applicable, owning/renting property in a special district (which levies taxes for specific things like airports, cemeteries, drainage, pest control etc) can also pack a punch.

Ask him if he had found any major problems that he took pictures of, if there are only minor things, cracked glass, cracked tile nail holes etc. don't even bother, if something major then it be be good to have to document and use for negotiation.

They are going to call and say there is a bedbug infestation, rats everywhere, no hot water, holes in the floor, the door won't lock, leaking roof, and the tub is cracked, oh, and the landlord refuses to fix all this.

Really cuts down on the planning and they have a matching one in stock if your installer damages one or something comes apart different than expected and you need a different size.With counter tops, you can buy already finished blanks in specific lengths are only need to be trimmed and sinks holes cut. 

Another  idea that I have wanted to look into is utilizing an underground network of soaker/drainage lines that keep you from needing a lot of area for sprinkler coverage.  

That was a big bill so I decided to just remodel both bathrooms and get it over with since there is already big holes in the walls.

Someone had installed blown in insulation from the exterior, so the plugs on the holes were popping off from getting wet. 

The sink is in good condition other than the fact the drain hole has mold on the rim.  

Patching holes or retexturing a room should be well within your own capabilities.