Provide extras - the ultra-personal touch.I just love when people try to super overcharge for their services.

Unless we were asked and were being paid extra , we never replaced the pipe going into the tank from the house . 

1) Do you put the extra rent and deposit in escrow?

Now every week that passes, I'm paying extra to keep my rate in.

Of course it sounds good as extra income but as I am looking it does sound like a headache and not appraising well.

The goal is to have paid off properties to pay my parents extra income in retirement. 

I cannot see how build two, say, 1200 sq ft houses with two roofs, two foundations, presumable about 25-30% more windows and siding is going to be cheaper a duplex that might have a little extra fireblocking and soundproofing.Now, maybe your GC is thinking that detached homes tend to get higher rent than comparably sized and finished duplexes.  

I upgraded to the next level because I knew if it helped me get my first deal, or an extra deal.. or made any of it faster or easier... the price paid would truly be nothing in relation to the reward gained.

Make extra money for flight school is good, but if you need extra money for flight school that tells me that you don't have a ton to invest into real estate right now.

If it brings enough to cover taxes, interest, legal fees and auction expenses, plus some extra, the people with redemption rights share the "extra."