The only thing you'll accomplish is to tick them off.I would wait until 45 days prior to their lease expiration.

Not too bad.Regarding your security deposit, unless stated differently in your lease, you will give written notice of lease termination (along with a forwarding address) at least 30 days prior to your moving out.

The property is zoned R-6 and in the Citizens Guide to Residential Zoning Districts & Regulations on the Richmond City website R-6 properties allow for "One dwelling unit located in an accessory building, containing two or more stories (lawfully existing prior to the date of this section), with conditions" ... which to your point sounds like accessory units are only "grandfathered in" .. still I will reach out to the planning department for more information.

A little money after the purchase is less than the little money prior to purchase and does not provide the type of reserve that I would want a less experienced RE investor to have. 

I am a lawyer (but not licensed in CA) so unfortunately I am not exempt from taking a course prior to sitting for my exam. 

Licensed:  Just run a comprehensive search on sold properties over the prior 12 months. 

In order to curtail some of these issues which may arise in the future a bed bug addendum, mold addendum ,as well as a move-in inspection report all should have been included at lease signing prior to moving in.

There is No need to pay the property taxes prior to closing. 

I review returns all day long where full renovations are just capitalized with no thought to any parts that can be expensed or put on shorter time linesWhere they just use tax assessor for depreciable value and ignore other methods that may get a bigger depreciation deductionWhere they don't apply prior year tax prep costs aginst rentals WHere they don't bother with meals, miles, or a portion of phone and internetSo while you can go general firm for 1 rental, or self prepare- Depending on the price point of the property, if it was renovated, you may be paying extra tax for no reason. 

After discussion back and forth prior to signing the lease with the agent that's what the agent tells me.