Over all, a portfolio of DIVERSIFIED (as to residential areas) properties utilizing a buy and hold strategy should provide an adequate risk adjusted return without utilizing any other “opportunistic” strategies to “gig” the ROI.  

For example, temporarily stopping utilities to their unit during a repair or if there will be loud noise or a major renovation on the premises. 

Do most of them include the utilities in the monthly fees?

Please provide a forwarding address prior to moving out, and be sure to cancel/transfer any utilities out of your name by the move out date.

Well, do they have a job to pay that extra $200 plus utilities per month?  

In another situation, my customer would buy faucets.

Basically, you are being paid for a job.Or you can hire a PM (be more passive) and have income after expenses (PM, utilities, furnishing costs, etc) that is comparable to LTR income.   

After getting a good amount of equity in the house for future HELOC funding, I was going to move out of it and use the property as a rental utilizing a lease option, or, rent to own agreement. 

Pay to separately meter the utility.

When I click on paint, its the same prices as if I was a regular customer.