One such property was sold in 2010 for $141,000, and had new roof, new siding, new windows, 2 new full baths, new kitchen, new 200 amp electric service, and new heat and central air. 

Don't know about Philly but here landlords pay sewer/water and heat/hot water generally.

A heat gun and scraper works pretty good for getting the tiles up.

What heat tape can you recommend to insulate water lines?

The crime heat map on Trullia does not look horrible. 

Now that you've taken the pressure off the seller and they are no longer "in heat" you may have difficulty getting further cooperation since you did not think thus through fully and engineer this prior to spending the money.Now their problem is YOUR problem.

The water heater bust, the furnace heat exchange is cracked and we have not had air all summer. 

Whenever I go out of town for any more than a couple days I shut my hot water heater off mostly so I don't pay to heat water that isn't being used but this would be another good reason. 

Hello BPers,We are looking at a building with landlord paid heat.

It is an allowance for the cost of long term capital costs, roofs need replacement, systems such as hot water heater and air conditioning/heating systems wear out.