In those cases, you need a good track record of what a running average (12 months, to account for all seasons) of utilities costs per month, include it in the rent in some fashion, and be sure to occasionally revisit your 12-month running average costs with your provider to ensure you're recapturing those costs. 

Sometimes it helps to get creative...Now, on a personal level, I'm active duty military, so we've been frequent renters and occasional buyers of SFH... wall and carpet color don't matter to me one bit... but they DO matter to my wife. 

Any time you feel like paying off an investment property is a good thing just sit down and go through your tax return.It is a horrible idea.Too many new landlords and "new age" landlords blur the lines between their personal and professional interests.

Occasionally, the owner would want me to just hire an electrician or plumber, etc., if the job was something he didn't want to deal with or knew how to do.

One has been paying late but she had did that occasionally before coronavirus hit.

The tenant has access to backyard (not in lease but offered as a freebie) it's in decent shape with not trees or plants whatsoever but my neighbor's back yard is lush green and some of his plants creep into the backyard.There will be occasional uninvited guests such as Centepedes and Beatles when the tenant opens his door.Now they are asking me to call in for an exterminator,the previous tenant never once mentioned it to me.Its not an infestation so I think it doesn't require me to call for an exterminator,it's not an infestation per se.How do I handle this demanding tenant?

the agent I was working with would occasionally share a blog post on his facebook page.

Since the topic in next link comes up occasionally, time to add it to this list:http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/41/topics/70371-leaving-old-owner-on-as-tenant-after-foreclosure

But honestly, besides the occasional light bulb replacment, smoke detector battery replacement, HVAC filter replacement, your monthly repairs isn't all that much. 

And then occasionally you get a big expense like a water heater goes out or furnace.