There is rarely any warning of an event, and no way for any typical tenant to implement any significant measures to minimize damage from an impending disaster.

If I am investing in the stock market the normal measuring standard is 7% return...ok, some say 8%...but at 7% then every 10 years my money doubles.  

That is because you can measure the results in terms of deals or activity that leads to deals.Hence budget for staying the course for some time and seeing what works.

I think it's much easier to charge a flat amount that is approximately the amount utilities would be, less bookkeeping and less risk of doing it wrong.https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/504B.2152019 Minnesota Statutes PROPERTY AND PROPERTY INTERESTS Chapter 504B Section 504B.215504B.211504B.2212019 Minnesota StatutesAuthenticate PDFResourcesSearch Minnesota StatutesAbout Minnesota Statutes2019 Statutes New, Amended or Repealed2019 Table of Chapters2019 Statutes Topics (Index)Chapter 504BTable of SectionsFull Chapter TextVersion ListSection 504B.215Version ListTopicsCooperative power associationsFurnace oilGas companiesGasesLandlords and tenantsMunicipally owned utilitiesPower companiesPublic utilitiesResidential rental propertyUtilitiesWater companiesRecent History2010 Subd. 2a Amended 2010 c 315 s 72010 Subd. 3 Amended 2010 c 210 s 12008 Subd. 2 Amended 2008 c 313 s 12008 Subd. 3 Amended 2008 c 313 s 22006 Subd. 2b New 2006 c 183 s 12000 Subd. 2 Amended 2000 c 268 s 12000 Subd. 2a New 2000 c 268 s 21999 504B.215 New 1999 c 199 art 1 s 24504B.215 BILLING; LOSS OF SERVICES.Subdivision 1.Definitions.For the purposes of this section, "single-metered residential building" means a multiunit rental building with one or more separate residential living units where the utility service measured through a single meter provides service to an individual unit and to all or parts of common areas or other units.Subd. 2.Single-meter utility service payments.Except as provided in subdivision 3, the landlord of a single-metered residential building shall be the bill payer responsible, and shall be the customer of record contracting with the utility for utility services.

I was unaware that there weren’t standard measurements so the same handyman custom made ones to put in.

Mom and pap deals can be lucrative and hidden with value, but you still need to take precautionary measures and perform your due diligence. 

My wife and I just went down to Home Depot, found a great quartz countertop (on sale) and had them come out, measure it and then install it.

I have a feeling my two preferred states of KY and TX will be slow to enact such measures.

If it's long-term wealth, you'll focus on properties with growth potential.Measure Progress: Goals help you measure how far you've come.

Thinking population growth might be a good indicator but not sure that’s the correct / only measure.