My godfather has stated to me, "He hasn't been under contract for almost 8 years now, has smoked in the unit for 10 years, and hasn't had the electric bill put in his name but pays extra on top of his rent every month." 

Batteries in smoke detectors are $2 each.

EX1: The Fee Deal This deal is best if you have a large team or overhead you have to pay.1%-2% Acquisition Fee5%-20% Construction Management Fee1%-3% Disposition Fee30% of profit after fees to you70% of profit to capital partnerEX2: Preferred Return DealThis deal is best if your capital partner wants a consistent return with some upside and/or if you think you have a smoking hot deal. 8%-15% Interest payments on your partners capital investment (paid when the deal closes)60%-80% Profit to you after Interest (Preferred return)20%-40% Profit after Interest to your capital partnerEX3:  The Simple DealThis deal is best if your capital partner is not sophisticated. 50%/50% Split of profits0%-2% Listing Commission (If you are the broker)I've put together dozens of partnerships.  

Does this seem true regarding changing the smoke detector batteries?

If the tenants are not already violating the existing lease agreement, such as a pet or smoking, there is a good chance that they will violate it over the next few months.

Smoke and mirrors is not the recipe for long term success.

I've learned to talk to people and pick out the guy trying to blow smoke up my butt from a honest dependable person I can rely on. 

The unit has new AC, water heaters, smoke alarms, security lighting, and fire extinguishers to code. 

Tear the window security bars out if they don't have a fire release, throw some cheap co/smoke detectors up, double strap the water heater and no duct tape isn't going to cut it (CA earthquake thing), cut the 3 foot weeds back away from touching the exterior wall, get rid of that goddamn chicken seriously a "pet" chicken is not part of a vacant duplex wtf (true story), you know... that sort of thing.

They will blow smoke up the tail of a decent borrower who will come in and do more business, making them think they are really special customers.