The risk you run by dropping rates beyond not getting much money relative to the wear and tear that you run a higher risk of getting undesirable guests who will not respect your property and could do damage.

But then again, the hundreds of cycles in between then have brought a lot of tears.

Centers, ,Superior Court, ,Talk to Neighbors, ,Tax Liens, ,Tear Off Notices, ,Telephone Poles, ,Television TV Guide, ,Title Companies/Closing Agents, ,Trade Shows, ,TShirts and Hats, ,TV Guide Newspapers, ,Twitter, ,Uber Drivers, ,Uhaul Locations, ,Vehicles, ,Visiting Nurses, ,Walking Billboards, ,Web Links and Alliances, ,Web Page, ,Wedding Announcements, ,Weekly Hotels, ,Yellow Pages, ,Your Competitors, ,Your Contractors/Vendors, ,Your Existing Occupants, ,Your Voice Mail/Tell a Friend, etc

To put it mildly, the assumptions are not helpful and distract from the basic decisions that the landlord needs to make.I am in favor of communication with this tenant first, with landlord letting her know clearly in writing that landlord is concerned about unusual damage that is beyond normal wear and tear, and unauthorized repairs and replacements, and insurance issues. 

Hey, when the wholesalers get on and insist they have gravitas, it's still better than when the remote-managing slumlords look for every justification to pass an obvious wear-and-tear expense on to a tenant.

If they are not maintained, they eventually become tear downs.  

Would it be considered normal wear and tear or is this something excessive that the tenants have caused due to carelessness?

NO Carpet No ceiling fans  and other tidbits that will keep wear and tear down.

The house should only be a tear down (termites which have destroyed the garage and interior of the home, no central air/heat throughout although it's listed as such, broken showers and dish washer, swimming pool with cracks in it, a leaky roof, etc..). 

For example, every roofer will tell you to tear off not roll-over or to replace just because a roof is a certain age etc.