The only bill I have other than food/gas/mortgage/electric is a student loan.

If dirt, and any fuel etc. leaked into the ground you may be required to clean up, and that could be expensive, same if there are any underground tanks.

Send mailers to Water, Gas, and electric company shut off lists 65.

I think it means that they don't mind working with a buyer who doesn't care that the agent is already working their a$$ off in this market burning gas going from house to house, busting their butt submitting offers just to be # 16 out of 35 offers already submitted and all the normal 'underpaid' labor buyer's agents have to do including applying for CO's, attending inspections and talking buyers out of canceling the deal.

If tenants Pay for their own gas/electric heat, it takes this huge expense totally out of the equation for you.

http://usat.ly/TUtURnAnyone chasing these oil and gas boom towns?

The fee will cover his time and gas given that there's no chance you'll actually be hiring him to do the work.

Are utility expenses (electric, gas, water) incurred before getting a tenant allowed to be expensed for tax purposes or do I also have to include these with the initial cost?

If you look at the definition of a security here:www.sec.gov/about/laws/sa33.pdfyou find:(1) The term ‘‘security’’ means any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, security-based swap, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a ‘‘security’’, or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.I've highlighted some of the terms that could refer to a loan.Now, like Corey Dutton I don't really think the SEC trolls craigslist looking for these ads.

Secondly the pea trap does not keep the gas from seeping up and why would you want a house full of sewer gas?