It also includes managing your existing investment well to ensure you aren't bleeding money due to bad tenants, excess maintenance, etc. 

A possible solution could be to hire a handyman to cut out the section of drywall that has been water damaged and use a moisture meter to see if there is excessive moisture in the wood and other parts of the drywall. 

An appraisal fee in advance for an actual appraisal is legitimate, but you can find lenders that don't require appraisals and don't charge appraisal fees.

I used the excess funds to add an ADU via a build-to-suit exchange.

On one project we did we proposed 36 highway accesses and were denied as been excessive. 

First, most investors and owners of real estate related businesses are in one or more of the following situations1- they’re unable to duplicate their expertise that drives the ROI and they are at their personal max capacity as to time2- they’re obtaining high ROI by use of excessive leverage 3 - they’re obtaining high ROI by taking excessive risk4- they hit correct timing in the correct market, and this is not necessarily repeatable with any probabilityIn order for an investment or business to scale, we need the ROI (on a risk adjusted basis) to be sufficient to cover a PREMIUM risk adjusted return to passive investors; all expenses of managing the assets and the business, and a significant return to the “sponsor” providing compensation to him making the work, risk and time worth while. 

I don't know what they are but unless there's something in the city that requires that kind of notice, it sounds excessive to me.

I find that putting a utility cap in the lease agreement they sign and calling their attention to it really helps make them more aware that they'll have to pay for excess usage so, fortunately, I haven't had to actually bill anyone yet, but the language is there if I needed to. 

I regularly get sent underwriting on value adds in excess of 20%.I do not do work intensive value adds to flip so my acquisitions have slowed significantlygood luck

It might be worth a follow-up closer to the move-out date to confirm their plans, but avoid excessive contact to prevent escalation.