Hi All, My tenant called at 10 pm on Jan. 1st to let me know that the furnace (natural gas boiler) was constantly cycling on and off and the temp was dropping in the home. 

Go to Bogleheads.org/forum and anonymously post  your issues, your income, your expenses including rent, gas, electricity, etc.  

Anywhere from $200 to $400/ month, this doesn't include having them pay for their own water/ gas (if that is possible). i am still in the discovery mode for the actual $ values for the monthly  expenses.  

Both buildings I've managed in So Cal had certain units with gas fireplaces. 

They also found a gas line with a rubber gasket patch.

Natural Gas is not available.I'm estimating this monthly heating expense at $400 per month. 

However, if the temperatures were cold enough that the heat pump wasn't able to keep up, the system automatically engages the heat strips to satisfy the users call for heat even when the thermostat isn't on "emergency heat".Additionally, the thermostats I install will engage the backup heat (resistance heat or gas) when the thermostat indicates a temperature difference greater than 2 degrees between the actual temperature and the set point temperature.

Long story short, I bought a foreclosure rental house at the end of 2014 and had it renovated and ready to rent out in January 2015, except that the utility company kept refusing to turn on gas service.

Other than selling Avon, baked goods, and making jewelry, we are both technichly retired [ will finally have closing on our business next week after months of title problems] and since other than some new appliances, bathroom sink, and gas furnace repair, everything else is totally simple cosmetic stuff we can do in our spare time.[ we need to live there for a year anyway, and might choose to stay after that] We won't get started working on it for a few weeks because we are getting our Bennett house ready to sell, but when we do, we only intend on making the kitchen serviceable, and the living room nice before moving in [ the bathroom works fine, but eventually we need to get rid of its' all pinkness other than a brown tub!

How do you get confirmation the house is locked back properly, with all the doors and windows closed, lights, water and gas turned off, and ready for next visitor?