I plan to keep all my rentals in Wilmington as I actually really like the market...and for the neighborhoods that I'm looking to invest in there's a decent amount of redevelopment trying to happen and I like the idea of being able to contribute back to the revitalization of an area that's at-risk for going to the dark side.

Yes I was able to screen so that the tenant does not smoke (not even weed, has no evictions, no felonies, and no pets.)

The counter (laminate) is bent in the middle at the sink, and the supporting cabinets don't seem to be helping.Here is a remodel plan that imitates the original layout (has all the plumbing/electrical to support this configuration without modification):The sink (dark blue) counter is 9ft long. 

My first tenant, however, violated the NO SMOKING policy and ended up burning the front of this building down two years later (another story).

Do they smoke? 

Mike was being kind in his response. they are setting you up to pay your fee's up front then they will all of a sudden tell you your deal does not work and you money is lost or they just go dark altogether .. 

Of course he promises he’s not smoking inside...I’ve done a walkthrough of his place while he’s not home and wasn’t able to determine if he’s actually smoking inside..I’m wondering if there is anything I can do specifically to prove that he is/isn’t smoking inside?

I wanted to choose a dark cabinet color because a light color might make the cabinet look cheap and a darker color will cover up some of the imperfections better.I have a deep red accent wall (this is what the cabinets are lying against) in the white painted kitchen. dark grey-ish tiled floors, black countertop, SS appliances.Are there any interior decorators that can help a guy out?

In the continued repetition and improvement of your systems efficiency and the increase of your cashflow you will achieve the decamillionaire status, and we'll be smoking cigars at Mark's and you'll casually mention, "Oh by the way, my banker tells me I'm a decamillionaire today....doesn't help me one bit with those damn vacancies though."

If it were me I’d paint the cabinets (semigloss dark gray or color of your choice).