I have a tenant that is a painter so I let him paint his apartment.

@Jay HinrichsMaybe thats always possible and I totally agree in terms of the personal experience described not being as bad as the picture painted in the post or in the title so a little unfair to @Jay Walsh.

Main floor and bedrooms only need new paint, all floors on main and 2nd floor are solid hard wood and in excellent condition.  

Last year I replaced two roofs, three water heaters, flooring in two units, paint in two units.

Smell was gone, so I didn't need to pull out the sheet rock or do anything crazy.I put in new flooring, painted and rented it out. 

I will be targeting cosmetic rehabs (paint, carpet, appliances, vanities etc.).

When you turn this house over, you will have to pay $3,000 to redo carpet, paint, clean, etc.

I've done a good amount of renovations: siding/soffits/fascia, gutters, replaced all concrete work, repaired and refinished porch, all baths and kitchens, refinished hardwood floors, full paint job, landscaping ,etc.I live in one unit and rent the other two, a 3br/1.5 ba for $1200 and a 1br/1ba for $700.

There's even some late investing strategies our clients use to reconvert to rental then sell later and buy passive 1031 opportunities to hold till death and the step up in basis.The key points to remember are that delay of taxes (paying homage to watching paint dry and the World Cup here) is still a very valid strategy. 

The house was completely painted with both latex and oil based paint.