You already mentioned Mid term, which can be a great way to increase cash flow.

Is it best to simply increase rent by a fixed amount (e.g., $700) to cover this, or are there other strategies for handling utilities in this situation?

*As a side note, I think maybe it would be fun also to try and identify where new technology or machine-learning driven approaches could increase efficiency in the spaceAs for my financial situation, personally, I have around 50k saved but 20k of it is tied up in assets I don't want to pay capital gains tax on.

The first couple is a no-brainer.The second group has too many people, increasing wear-and-tear on the home.

Who cares about lifetime interest costs, except to the extent you can easily lower them (refinance to a lower interest rate) to increase your cashflow.

Follow up with an email to the agent and bullet point your case, which increases the chance that the owner will actually hear them7.)

You can find SF properties that already have in law suites, garage units, etc, and now legally rent those, so it should increase the appraised value significantly.

WE use the doors that have the blinds built in for the man door on the garage so it can have some light or privacy and or if it goes to the backyard because there is no slider same thing and we put that door on whatever room is going to be the office.. that way they can close the blind in the glass for privacy while they work or leave it open  buyers dig that.

Leverage is a big factor in real estate investing, as investors can control large assets with relatively small down payments, increasing their potential returns (and risks).6.

There is only a $3 difference increase to move to RentRedi, but the customer service is amazing.