My scenario goes like this... lets say a previous tenant just moved out and now for the next month the property is listed for rent, finally someone moves in but for that one month no one is living in that unit and only is being used for walkthroughs and repairs that are needed.So in this case how do I set up for utilities to be paid by me if when a tenant is renting the apartment they pay for the utilities on their own (besides water and sewer of course)Thank you to all that reply

As the tide goes out, I think we'll see who wasn't wearing any pants, as Warren Buffet likes to say. 

Your lease should say as much.

On the flip side, you could also invest most or all of your money into one larger property (say a 16-unit for $1M w/ financing) and work on that instead. 

And if your short-term goal is to replace your income in, say a year, I definitely wouldn't invest it in smaller rental properties like single-family homes or duplexes/triplexes.

So much for that seeing as summer is almost over...I’ve been working off the assumption that rental real estate is indeed a business, being that it is engaged in for the purpose of profit or investment (as opposed to say, a hobby).

Like the others say a partnership is one option; hard money lenders are another.

As to raising value, I'd say a renovation (if needed, bearing in mind that not everything adds value i.e. new curtain rods and bathroom fixtures aren't going to add $3k in equity, typically), additions, upgrades, etc.

@Kelly Claiborne I’d say a combination of knowledge & wanting a mentor.

For example, they would inspect your place (required) and say a smoke detector has been be moved a few feet, and then the electrician would quote a high rate because they knew it was required.