If it looks to be a solid deal then use your knowledge of which expenses should exist and if utilities are in question you can always call the provider.

Most of my utility consumption is gas.

Since you mentioned investing out of state, I'm assuming you're asking about getting a partner online, or at least not a friend/acquaintance.

People will hear podcasts online about how a 25 year old investor bought 65 billion properties in one week and think that they have to do the same thing. 

Do you believe online accounting services like 1800 Accountant are good for the owner of a Real Estate LLC?

I use Quickbooks online for the formal accounting so it's easy for my tax guy to get in there and do his piece every year, since I have an LLC per building.

ONLINE PRIVATE LISTINGSIf homeowners are looking to sell without a real estate agent, they’re likely on social media.

The way to handle it is to allocate expenses based on the percentage of the home’s square footage used for rental purposes.Here’s how it works:Calculate Rental Percentage: Add up the square footage of both the in-law suite and the rented room, then divide by the total square footage of the house.Apply This Percentage: Use this rental percentage to deduct a proportionate share of expenses like repairs, utilities, and mortgage interest.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

Can you bill back utilities to the residents?

A professional contractor is not going to work with you buying parts that don't fit online or at Home Depot.Who pays for delays?