One of of my big "must-haves" on a duplex is separately metered water.. 

Most workers at the utility departments will watch the meter to see if there is a lot of flow, but I still always tell them to "unlock only".If this tip is helpful, please reply or comment.

Then you can make a rough projection.You didn’t mention Electric & Gas bills, but hopefully both are metered separately and paid directly by the tenant.

Get a list of properties which have code violations so bad that the certificate of occupancy has been pulled ( no one can live in it)Get a list of dead meters from the electric company.

So, when a letter comes in the mail to us and the address appears hand written, has a standard stamp as opposed to being metered, comes in a plain envelope or even one which looks like an invitation style envelope and so forth, we are curious.

Absolutely use a stamp over metered and just use any stamp.

Go there after dark and pull the electric meter out (quickly) and take off with it.

Other lists would be much better:Code violationsDead meters

@Dan D.A big factor that I would consider is weather or not the duplex is individually metered. the thing i like about SFR in my town is that all utilities including water, sewer and garbage, are all paid by the tenant.

Are there separate meter for electric, water and gas?