Make sure the roof overhangs the eves by 10-12" so water runs off onto the ground and not down the side of the home.  

Does anyone else worry about water in places like Vegas?

Modern plumbing and electrical, brick exterior, water drains away from house, no large trees near house, etc- No one will look after your property as well as you want them to.

In some states utilities like sewer and water can add up fast and they attach to the house.  

Expenses such as water, sewer, garbage, gas, electricity, lawn care, etc.

For example in my duplex the copper water piping developed pinhole leaks in several areas and needed to be replaced.

The biggest renovations we did to a house was paint and flooring throughout, whole new kitchen, new electrical, water heater, plumbing, new bathroom, and rebuilt part of the porch, and moved a window, and we didn't reach 20K so that might be a little high.

Plus I do all the ground work, taxes, water, liens and title searches for clean titles.

I don't like the idea of a pet deposit because what if the pet was great and there was no damage due to the dog however there is other damages or unpaid rent, I feel that muddies up the water. 

My architect and I sent them over assembly bill No 811 on ADUs and mentioned that the looks to be in violation of the bill quoting the following:"Accessory dwelling units shall not be considered by a local agency, special district, or water corporation to bea new residential use for purposes of calculating connection fees or capacity charges for utilities, including waterand sewer service, unless the accessory dwelling unit was constructed with a new single-family dwelling"They responded saying that this didn't apply to the ADU and quoted the following"(B) For an accessory dwelling unit that is not described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), alocal agency, special district, or water corporation may require a new or separate utility connection directlybetween the accessory dwelling unit and the utility.