I am having a difficult time navigating these waters as I do not want her to be taken advantage and I know that this continues to be a major issue especially in Los Angeles county (where we both live).

When I got my 2nd apartment it was because I had just bought a water bedroom set that I knew didn't fit upstairs in folks' Cape Cod.

There are taxes due of $700 and a water bill due of about $250.  

There are some costs in a SFR that can get passed to the renter, water fees, in some cases condo fees include heat (heating costs are lower when the tenant is writing the check each month vs turning up temp when it's cold outside), yard maintenance etc.

IMO I don't look at SFH with under $300 + cash flow and generally multi-units at 350 per door due to higher taxes and insurance cost as well as the added expense of Water utility monthly and higher maintenance.

He gave me the typical MLS sheets that have the MLS number, a picture on the Left Upper corner, and all the details on Taxes, Sq Ft, Flood Zone, Zoning, Heat type, sewer, water, parking, etc, etc and it even has the paper clip link with Deed, Seller Disclosure, maps, additional pictures BUT there is no indication or note of co-broke fee in it. 

I am scheduled to close tomorrow. my contract says "broom clean condition", which i think is standard language in most PA's.well, i went there yesterday and the house is still a mess, multiple refrigirators, ovens, wheel chairs, porn tapes, cabinets, water heaters, dolls, tables, you name it, it's there.my agent left multiple messages with the sales agent (a huge knob!)

I had a tenant that created a fire (mostly smoke and water damage from a fire sprinkler). 

It's time to write up new leases and I'm unsure on how to handle utilities.Electric, gas, water and trash cost me ~80k a year.

Not much water damage I'd guess.I don't know anything about redwood.