I would appreciate input from the BP community as to the best way to approach this from a financial and tax perspective.  

Delays are typically caused by previous landlords or employers who don't respond to our requests for verification.Logical, perfectly sensible approach.

Overall it makes you a better property manager controlling your utility and the bills with it.https://remforce.com/base-boiler-kit/Lastly, I take this approach because actually metering people doesn't work for me in my business planning or this neighborhood and clientele.

My approach doesn't require any special expertise in trades to make the estimates only that you are honest with yourself about your estimates.

I like @Dave DeMarco approach of staggering in every few weeks, but right now the space seems more like trading than long term investing, at least with any meaningful amount of money.

Hello BP!
I just closed on my second 4plex in Emeryville this week, which is 75% occupied, and every unit is renting below market (~$250-$1500 less). This is the breakdown:
2 tenants on month to month leases ~$250-...

That said, if you are OK with little-no profit and are simply looking to gradually build market share by doing high-volume low-quality deals, this approach could gain some traction.All the best!

We are already surrounded on three sides by urban zoned homes.My neighbors and I have been approached by two individuals, one is a neighbor who is a real estate agent, and the other one a friend of a neighbor, who works with a real estate attorney; both individuals asked us to join them in working with the 5-6 developers they have approached.

Just trying to find the right balance of what is a safer way to approach it on my first deal.

Things have tightened up everywhere so it's not as it was in the day, but without question, many people became wealthy on both sides with an off-market approach.