Remember claims stay on your record from five to seven years.When the cost exceeds the deductible by a large number, then file a claim before you start the work.  

We can regularly exceed the "1% rule". 

They could have easily bought a house, wife also had a high paying job and there income exceeded mine.Another tenant was a CPA/Comptroller for a medium sized corporation, with a name you'd probably recognize, they also rented from me for 7 years. 

Both good rental markets which can exceed the "1%" rule in many locations where you can buy at an average cap rate of 10%.

Be careful @Mike Verrona that if you plan to resell that the % of rentals doesn't exceed some lenders limits.

For loans greater than $1,000,000, there is an additional upfront guarantee fee equal to 0.25% of the amount by which the guaranteed portion of the loan exceeds $1,000,000.

I have seen many deals on paper that would easily exceed the 2% rule in rougher neighborhoods in Jax.

Having had easy winters in the last two years in Chicago...the gas bill could exceed $2000+.

3/2 sfh rent in the area starts at about $1300/mo and climbs quickly to north of $1600/mo as soon as the sqft exceeds 1500sqft.  

I would wager that the rate of rent increases on your properties are higher than the OP, have already gone up dramatically in the 7 years you've owned them, and if you just hold on to them and do nothing more then they will dramatically exceed 18k in no time.