But light ones are hard to come by because that is what everyone can do.If I'm going to sink time and money into a full gut, I want to make sure its for a good return!

Water is still on at the house so they must be using the sink to wash dishes. 

Inside, the spaces do not look like someplace a person would choose to live compared to a standard apartment...if the market were super hot, and getting a rental was hard...and super competitive, people will live anywhere they can get...and make do, but with more attractive offers from competitors at similar prices, they tend to shop for the best they can get for their money.Let me give you an example of two things that jump out at me...Bathroom: There is a huge space between the toilet and the sink and the shower is a (tiny) 30" x 30" (ish) looking space vs a 60" x 34" (ish) bigger space (aprox. tubs size) that fits people who like to eat a lot.

Is there a hex wrench under the sink?

You want someone who does everything including the kitchen sink then go to a bank. 

The disposal kept falling under the sink..I repaired immediately. 

At one of our sfh properties, with a newer re-modeled kitchen, the tenants had put in an a large above sink dish drainer that went all the way up to almost touching the top and sides of the cabinets, and as they would hand wash dishes and put them up in this rack, water was getting all over the sides of the cabinets.

It seems like every few years someone brings this topic up when we have a flood or sink hole.

I have a 5% rate with my parents on two loans, but it does come with strings attached like replacing the kitchen facet, sink drains, and a ceiling fan in one of their rentals yesterday. 

I check all the smoke detectors (which gives me a good reason to go into each room), check all the plumbing fixtures and under sinks for leaks, and also make sure the furnace (or wall heaters) are clean and operational.If there is any major damage or unsafe conditions that I notice while I'm there, I'll bring it up to them in writing once I'm home.