What would the IRS consider improvements that must be depreciated? 

In terms of improving targeting, I have heard that you can purchase something akin to a title search here in Ontario through MPAC (or maybe your local municipality) that at least gives you the names of current owners but each search costs about $8 so you don't want to do many of those!

A CPA would know whether or not you could take bonus depreciation on the capitalized improvements, but since you already know what the cost was, there is no need for a cost segregation.

This is due to bonus depreciation which allows taxpayers to deduct 100% of qualifying property costs in the first year, in addition to regular depreciation for new construction and improvement.

Almost all of my owners have complied, and it has improved the maintenance request area and vendor relationships consistently.

have any improvements been made?

We might see a little improvement in Greenfield with the Amazon warehouse extension!  

Management involves some rough conversations, but after having had dozens of them I can tell you that your relationship with these folks won't be worse, and it might actually improve. 

Understanding the market - bought it under valued - came in with additional capital to improve units that desperately needed updating.

We have purchased moderate fixers and lived in them while improving, so we earned tax-free gains by holding those.