Walmart and Best Buy pay pretty good to stock shelves.

The tub scratches are from people who wash things like tricycles, metal shelving and cleats in the shower.

Your situation does sound like you made improvements but some of the bathroom stuff can be five year property instead of 27.5 year property.I would break out the cost of the toilet, vanity, mirrors, shelving, sinks, etc as these are 5 year assets.Then, you can take bonus depreciation or section 179 depreciation and get a similar expensing as it you called it a repair.Plus, you should allocate a portion of the original purchase price of the house to this bathroom then take a write off for the assets you abandoned.

Believe it or not, I actually prayed for Osama bin Laden.

Some of my favorite features: adding a few updated light fixtures (like a chandelier above the stairs, or wall sconces on a feature wall), adding an accent wall, including some floating shelves, exposing brick where possible, etc.

To be upfront and honest I am & will be a bit light on exact perfect detail and mechanics as 1) it is very detail laden, and 2) not really interested in broadcasting my hard earned "secret recipe" that have developed over the years. 

Ended up sinking about $3-4k to fix some of the interiors, take down a lot of crazy shelving, and paint just about the entire house.

I set up shelves.

Attitudes have shifted, and all but one of my drama-laden tenants have calmed down, and even explained to me that they now understand why rents have risen, and are happy to have a nicer place for their clients to come see them. 

Even though these are second tier markets, stuff is flying off the shelves.