Is it worth pushing our budget to the max to replace, or will an appraiser just check the box that there is central heat/air? 

You can have several "good" years when nothing happens, followed by a year with 3 HVAC failures requiring replacement, 2 long vacancies + 2 serious make ready that will suck all the reserves and cashflow and push you into trouble if not careful.And last, I suggest you run regularly a "stress test" on your portfolio - what happens if you have X amount of vacancy at the same time, accumulated with Y of roofs replacements or HVACs in the same period? 

So who would take care of the cat in the event that she is hospitalized for any length of time.I know this isn't exactly your circumstance but I think you could definitely push back if you so desire.

In my naivety I pushed the urge to fire the sack of shade until he "got the systems all wrapped up", because on the residential real estate side of things I had dealt with a few exceedingly complicated sales that were caused by open permits (permits that had never been finaled out and closed) so I was very apprehensive about firing the contractor before the Electrical, Mechanical, Structural, and Plumbing permits had been closed.Six MORE months later it had been enough.

Maybe on borderline deals, I would push back. 

Yes, they're making a push into buying and selling houses online.But if the "experience" doesn't improve DRAMATICALLY, home-buyers will be turned off and word will spread.So just keep doing what you do... use your personal touch and don't run your business like a puppy mill --- all will be fine.My 2 cents.

Cheap out now and you'll just push more costs down the road. 

Other thing – phases need to be somewhat flexible, meaning there can be things in phase one that can be pushed over into phase 2, and vice versa.

I’m thinking I might have to push for NJ because it seems to be cheaper.

She indicated that she has brought it up at a meeting but it was pushed under the rug.