You would do that initially, I imagine and you would check out the tenants, or like you said, if it's vacant, that it looks like its still being kept up, the utilities look like they are on, landscaping is still maintained, etc.

Snow removal is a landscaping company I'm paying to snowblow the driveway, 6 car parking lot, and sidewalk.The gas is paid by the landlord because the property only has one meter per building.

Vacancy: 5-10% (8% is 1 month/year/unit)Capex: 5% (keeping things updated / reserves)Maintenance: 5% (keeping things working)Utilities: Any water, electricity, landscaping, trash, etc., you payLandlord License / Inspections / Fees / Code Enforcement: If anyProperty TaxesLandlord InsuranceAlso contributing to ROI: Appreciation/Depreciation and Turnover Expenses in excess of Security Deposit

Investors are looking to invest to make a profit and not just for the beautiful landscape :)Hope this helps.

I quickly realized that I may have done lot of groundwork necessary to educate myself, increase my network for flipping, but immediate DC-Metro area was not conducive to flipping in the current 2017 real estate landscape. 

Others even “drive for dollars” looking for distressed properties with boarded windows, overgrown grass/landscaping, obvious roof damage etc. and then make a purchase offer to the owner.

This might not really help you with things like taxes and utilities (I'm blind there as I'm not in Canada) but you do have added expenses for landscaping, new cap-ex items like shared parking to deal with, etc. 

I'm learning more about my own market again, current landscape, all the nuances, and there is so much here.

Do you have any other costs that you will take as owner - landscaping for instance?

Everything from landscaping to furnaces blowing to downspout fixing should be part of this:  this is NOT a Condo, and it's not a residential lease.