It ultimately depends on the facts of the circumstances (why the problem occurred - whether the pipes are just falling apart or the tenant flushed something inappropriate down the toilet) and the language in the lease.

I guess the company really sold me on the fact that they make sure the usage of these cards are not connected to my score personally, and also that they know what lenders to go to to get 0% APR for 12-18 months and they know which lenders my financial profile would get approved for.

You can put your rental amount higher on units where these utilities are included, and recover the cost that way, just have a clause in your lease covering excessive usage, using previous years as examples for what the utility cost should be.

These numbers might be completely inappropriate for your particular market in New Jersey, but it is food for thought.

I know there are a myriad of tax advantages when owning real estate under your personal name, such as depreciation, improvements/repairs, operating expenses, travel, and home office usage.

What suggestions or ideas do you have to help this seller realize the home was inappropriately assessed?

I will be able to read usage on my phone or web.

It's wildly inappropriate - or at least highly unconventional - for the realtor to have asked for it.

And if it is legal, still, check into splitting them because that added cost is a big turn off, namely because it can fluctuate wildly based upon tenant usage, and if it is free tenants will use it freely.

Account Closed     A term lease will require that the landlord evict in the event a new tenant (total stranger) does not work out as a tenant or worse will be forced to tolerate inappropriate tenant behaviour as opposed to simply giving notice of non renewal when on a M2M lease.