We typically like to meet your pets at some point in the process, too.Our tenants’ safety and the peaceful enjoyment of their home is important to us, so we do a credit/criminal background check on all applicants aged 18+.

Their appraisals are not only to ensure that the the home is worth at least the amount of the loan, but also for "safety". 

Where should you go for something like that, that is good, accurate, honest and trustworthy, as well as it doesn't charge an arm and a leg?

If not, then it is not likely going to be a safety hazard for a tenant or their kid to pull a fuse out and stick their finger in that box. 2.

.)- what alarms (burglar, fire, smoke, CO, etc..) are in place and what other safety features (extinguishers, fire doors, emergency lights, video survelliance, etc.) that are presentThis type of info needs to be gotten from the current owner or property manager and they are more likely to get it for you when you are a potential buyer than after. 

As long as the management company is a professional company, and your relationship is arms-length (i.e. they are not just another company owned by you, which in your case they are not) - you should be fine during an audit.

Follow safe recommendations, ladder placement, safety rope, how to walk on the roof etc. 

For example I was looking at multi family properties and it would seem that a minimum going a bank route is 25% down with a 20 year term with a 5 arm and 10 year ballooon with the option to extend another 10.

I've read about having to keep the money at arms length (3rd party) and not being able to actively manage properties.

Here, that is an “ARM” or adjustable rate mortgage.