Include specifics about what's covered, overage charges, and how you'll track/bill utilities.

Charge the tenants a higher rent rate and include utilities with their rent.

Ask how much rent they would charge and how much it would cost you.

It may sound nice to pay a 6% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no additional fees.

However, I haven't had a single application submitted for over two weeks.

Now I have done this for syndicators and I think that is a niche thats out their as their EM are 100 to 500k  and you can charge accordingly .. but in the regular resi space were deposit RARELY go above 5k how does this all work.. and how are you going to talk wholesalers who you dont know into using you..

Then I have a credit card to charge supplies and any utilities which allow credit card payments.

It may sound nice to pay a 6% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no additional fees.

I finally got ahold of the city today and they said the permitting timeline can be as fast as 3 weeks to 3 months, and is up to the owner's application and readiness. 

If I wasn't certain her story tracked, I would ask for documentation of her 401k balance and her application to withdraw money.