The work they do goes beyond the aesthetic and includes health and safety as well.

Also, for tenant safety, does the basement have two entrances? 

Safety is number one.

It's just hazardous for you to live there.

I just got under contract for this 5BED/2BATH w/mother in law unIt property where the numbers run great with almost $600 of net cash flow a month, which I believe to be decent for my first investment property, BUT there are a couple things I ran into and am seeking advice for. 1) During inspection, we found a few hazardous things on the property, that would need a $20k fix.

Not sure about Alabama, but in Texas the only reimbursable expenses are for safety, security, and preservation of the property. 

Especially in FL your primary is your bedrock, anchor, safety net and basically untouchable except for foreclosure - just as OJ and Burt Reynolds and a few others can attest to. 

I know tenant safety is #1 and that's why I went through an entire rehab fixing many things I did not have to fix to make it livable.

I do have a “safety” stockpile account where I store money for these purposes: taxes, returned security deposits, etc.I have a w-2 job and am having taxes taken out for that.

I've seen a couple of properties in Springfield especially with a sign from the county, something along the lines of "this property is an environmental hazard due to lead, unsafe for human occupancy, especially for children under the age of 6 and pregnant women..."