I'm not saying the list is ridiculous,  because all safety concerns should be addressed.

This provides you with a safety net for any unexpected expenses during the rehab process while also potentially allowing you to secure higher leverage on the purchase price.

Plus, having a fully paid-off property could be a nice safety net if the STR market takes a hit or occupancy slows down.On the flip side, if you’re eager to grow, saving for another property could be the better play.

Like you we had 3 teams of two door knockers  2 for safety one women one man.. and we door knocked every NOD in our 2 mil MSA  all to boil it down to if we were very lucky to get 2 to 3 deals a month.. now we were a little different I only would buy very high equity deals.. and we leased back .. because as you state 99% don't want to leave.. 

However, in emergencies or cases involving health and safety, we would attempt to contact the owner first and, if unsuccessful, proceed with the repair as outlined in the contract.Regarding the hot water heater, do you know if it genuinely needed to be replaced?

If you want safety, pay off the property.

The marketing/advertising firm, aka RE broker, is not the expert in building codes, zoning, structural engineering, neighborhood safety, etc.As a prudent investor, always do your own due diligence or you'll end up being (unitentionally) misguided by a RE broker's information.  

Thankfully I have no property in NY.I loved this quote which shows just how clueless people are about housing issues:“Housing instability is at the root of so many problems facing our city, such as exacerbating homelessness and hunger, failing to meet our children’s educational needs, and undermining public safety,” said the CWTU in a statement.

Add outdoor security cameras (just let guests know they’re there) and maybe some motion-sensor lights for extra safety.

They usually cherry-pick fire and safety related items from new editions of the building code that just can't wait, in their opinion.