Three years later, I was finishing the remodel and a new leak started.  

A friend of mine , his mothers gas hot water died .

On two properties, I was quoted current rates by the seller on electric, gas, and water bills.

Now that I am debt free in my personal finances I will be working to get a decent lump some of 6 months of my current expenses built up by the end of this year so I will have the pockets to stomach a water heater going out or a leaking roof in my first home.Then I can move on to saving a small down payment (I'm going the 3.5% FHA route) to get a multifamily home or home with a converted basement here in the Atlanta market for myself to live in one of the units and begin my investing career. 

Our first rental we completely redid the inside (kitchen, flooring, bathroom, added a natural gas fireplace, paint, etc...) and choose not to replace the original 1960 windows.

Save yourself some gas and frustration.

We brought a SFR with a newly installed roof but there were leaking from first heavy rain.

I'll say that, as a tenant in the past, I've repaired small things myself (leaking toilet, light switch, etc....) but I would not let my tenants fix anything themselves

If he has proof that you duct taped a pipe for instance to stop it leaking....

There is no explanation, cost sheets, whatever.No one gets a breakdown of gas prices, toll fares, FDA inspections, water costs, tax rates, and all of that when the cost of hamburger goes up.