I use rent-o-meter for rental income and to compare the property to others nearby.

I think having no BS in the pitch is just as important though, as most people still have a decent BS meter, even when in distress.

I already have a granny flat that my son lives in, so @Curtis Bidwell I'm interested to know how you bill for the utilities, assuming they are on the same meters.

@Mooro El Question to calibrate your BS meter, I haven't made a Fannie Mae loan for years, would that mean I don't know Fannie Mae lending?

And some properties have separately metered utilities. 

If there is a shared meter for a utility, then you maintain responsibility and figure out how to recover the cost from the Tenants.HOW TO SHARE UTILITIES 101You have a property with two or more units and the utility meters are shared.

Ask about utilities and meters...are they separate or all on one.

Exceptions are when they cannot be put in the tenants' name (I have that for a few of mine, I get the bill, and the tenants pay me that amount) or if you have two units on the same meter so you don't know how much each unit uses.

Are the units separately metered for electric and/or gas?

I'll be extending city water and sewer a few hundred feet up the highway and metering spaces separately.