Sometimes it's worth to "pre-hab" a property - meaning you clean it up, have trash removed and take care of the biggest issues like leaky plumbing, two broken windows etc, anything that makes the house un-inhabitable, remove everything that's really bad (like stained carpet, trashed kitchen), maybe have the interior painted white if the walls are very dirty and then sell it retail.

That's the good news.The bad news is that longer leases are generally broken.

I should clarify, their car had broken down and they needed a vehicle, they didn't go buy a new vehicle, they bought a running used vehicle.

Anything before that is not documented is tough to go after and honestly only takes her standing in front of a judge "The chair rail was broken when I moved in....

I always look at the fact that time is money, contractors don't show, weather doesn't co-operate and that blasted broken foundation, or the unexpected wiring or plumbing problems , or asbestos, or T111 siding, etc that always manage to find their way into the project have to be planned for.

As a contractor I get all these weird texts with broken english from people wanting me to do work at their house. 

Property defects affect the property such as a hole in the roof, broken A/C, etc.

Luckily I got a hold of him and he told me that they broke their lease with him (they put on my rental app that they had never broken a lease). 

Tall grass, broken windows, etc. you can go door knocking as well.

appliances are there for the tenants' convenience. additionally a broken oven does not make a property uninhabitable. that means is some states you may have as little as 30 days to repair or more. again, if you contract specifies that the tenants are responsible for the fixes with the proof of the repairs done professionally that is what needs to happen.