Gonna have a hard time re-renting a place to a good tenant when it reeks of pot... and a few hundred dollar deposit isn't likely to rid it of the stench.

I have had expensive issues trying to get rid of smoke smell.  

Essentially I want to put the 20% of effort that gets rid of 80% of the snags.

That means you're house would have to be worth almost $230,000 (assuming you put down 3% to begin with) in order to get rid of the FHA mortgage insurance.  

I would like to spruce it up to attract higher-quality tenants, especially since several surrounding houses have recently been remodeled and look really nice--this property sticks out like a sore thumb--and there are some nice skyline views from two of the units that I think could entice some younger professional types (very short commute to downtown to boot).Anyway, how can I get rid of the current tenants so I can rent to new ones at higher rents?  

I offered nothing down, seller pays repairs, seller gets rid of current tenants, and I'll do a Subject To. 

The agent straight up told me, if I'm going to put money into updating them they may just sell them to me at a steep discount to get rid of them quickly.  

I havent gotten rid of any yet (7 years) but we also have a fireproof file cabinet for it all, after move out I get rid of all digital files (burn onto dvd) and put with the hard copy, so less concern to me that way. 

So we hired a contractor to get rid of carpet and install hardwood/carpet.

Long story short, she told me about a property that the bank got through foreclosure that they desperately want to get rid of to be done with the case her office is bringing against them.