I started out as an investor in 2000 when CFDs and L/Os were still a thing, and watched as the Texas legislature gutted them because shady investors abused these tools. 

I am a new investor & would like to know that how often builders abuse this clause as it is very hard to argue and quantify if builders keeps on claiming the price has increased by 5% every 2 months during construction process.

Dumpster abuse is the worst when you're the one paying.  

Barclay US has cards for lower tier credit people to build their score, just make sure to not abuse your purchasing power since they often give out high credit lines in the beginning. 

You're right to learn a lesson from this a correct it, because getting an extra $50 or so a month due to your previously negotiated agreement, won't be worth it in the long run if your A/C goes out in just a few years from heavy abuse

Only way to abuse your heat bill is to hurt their electric bill, and we explain it to tenants, works well actually. 

These "come with the package" and are part of the deal;  I do not get directly compensated for that time investment.However, when you are repairing something that a tenant broke due to abuse, or cleaning their vacant unit because they did not clean it as stipulated in our signed contract,  That does not make any sense.From a tax standpoint, that revenue I receive by doing it myself (and charging the tenant for my time) is taxable revenue, so I don't see where it is "double dipping" (which is what I think the courts sometimes claim).I have so fat avoided this issue by having the tenants sign a "move out charge sheet" that itemizes estimates on damages/repairs made (I apologize for the formatting issues). 

We don’t want to have to go through the process of finding a new contractor each time, but we also dont want to abuse our guys time and willingness to work with us for only getting his regular fee.

This is the simplest method, but it also means your tenants are more likely to abuse the utilities by leaving windows open with the heat or A/C running, leaving lights on, ignoring the toilet that constantly flushes on its own, etc.3.

This is the simplest method, but it also means your tenants are more likely to abuse the utilities by leaving windows open with the heat or A/C running, leaving lights on, ignoring the toilet that constantly flushes on its own, etc.3.