Maybe you should consider one of the thermostats that you can monitor via an app on your phone or at least have a programmable one installed so you know its getting turned down when nobody is at the property.

You should have installed monitoring cameras.

My mother has always been impressed with how the staff monitor the residents and keep tabs on where they are and what they might need. 

Here are links to the DTE and Consumers Energy forms that you need to have signed and approved by the tenants in order to monitor their utilities. 

If I insulate like the home depot guy said is there a way to monitor this if it should leak again to minimize damage?  

Monitor the cracks for several months to see if there is still movement.

That said, you can hire commercial contractors for less money than a 50/50 split, you know they can do the job, but a higher price is the trade off, if you go with residential contractors, it will be less formal, unknown if the company can do the job right and up to a certain standard, probably daily monitoring/over schedule with over budget, etc but the advantage is lower price.That said, I tried a quote from a government contractor (no overages at all) vs a commercial contractor vs a residential contracor, they are 5-10% from each other.

At YE you will be seeing nonpayment and headed to eviction is my experience.Offer M2M only and monitor payment history and promptness. 

There will be local who monitor that forum and should be able to provide firm recommendations....while here you might get some stranger down in Texas commenting ;)  Just an idea.

He is going to manage the construction, monitor the budget, and work with a realtor to sell the house upon completion.