So far I have in my mind these positions: new contracts with the utility companies, arrange an insurance, tenant notification letter.What else should be added to the list?

It is by far the most expensive city to operate in - tolls, highest tax rate, inspection fees,  required utility deposits regarless of credit, etc.  

But the tools and the technology was already in place to utilize.

I’d like to keep it SFH because it maximized bedrooms and means tenants can cover utilities. 

One is a SFH, one is a duplex...the SFH is larger, will netmore $/mo because I won’t pay utilities... very similar in finishes, the duplex a little more updated.... but it appraised for 243 and the SFH only 164k... are Duplexes just valued higher in high rental neighborhoods?

However, due to the uncertainty of how much the engineer will have to work on the city's comments, our contract with the engineer says the engineer's work to address the city's comments will be on a time and material basis.A few days ago the city got back to us with their comments regarding our permit application.

Keep good records of timeline, costs (including utilities), and copies of the rental advertising so you can prove that you were attempting to mitigate losses if it is ever questioned.If your lease contains a lease-break clause with something different than attempting to mitigate then it will usually supersede.

Our question falls around the utilization of an LLC.

Hey Alex,Great to hear your short and long-term real estate investing goals and your plan on materializing said goals.I find myself in a very similar situation.

I have been browsing and studying a ton of material here over the past month or so.