My lease then states something to the affect that if any of those things happen we will contact their emergency contact and they will remove their personal belongings promptly and we will take back over the unit within X number of days.  

The key is to find the major aggregator's of this data in your area and contact them by email to have your number removed.

The lien itself is removed. 

It was super easy to install, just removed a panel and shoved it up there.  

The likely culprit here was probably the Homestead exemption which would have applied if the home was previously owner occupied but would have been removed once it became an investment property.

I'm no plaster expert but If I was guessing the choice will be between taking the walls down and hanging drywall, or maybe skimming over the plaster after removing the fabric covering.

Roommates are difficult to evict or remove from an apartment, but it is easier to evict from a rental unit!

It's refundable up to the point of removing all of your contingencies.

Other possible expenses that you wouldn't see in a SFR is landscaping and snow removal costs.

@Jason CadyleWe have had tenants in a duplex (side-by-side) assume responsibility for their own snow removal and lawn care in the past.