Have a good sized two-unit place. Although this is a duplex, I am renting it all out to a family who is multi-generational. I am not a big fan of the mix, a large three bedroom with a medium sized one bedroom. But that mix works well as they have grandma living in the back one bedroom.

Maintenance man called me up and said during his walk through, he noticed one of the two 40 gal. Braford White tanks with a small amount of water leaking out onto the basement floor. He sent me pics of rust on the bottom of the tank so it has been oozing a while. These two tanks are located right next to one another. The leaking one was installed nine years ago, and it is the outer tank. The inner tank isn't leaking - at least not yet. It is 11 years old and the same brand name.

I plan on replacing them both at the same time next week with a couple of AO Smiths. This did make me think, is the future looking towards two apartments in a single building or more towards multi-generational living in a large house. There is a small premium in rents with two units, but there is also another tenant too

On any given day, Ray has many little voices in his head.

The cheapest of them says, bypass the leaking tank and have both units use just the one tank - at least until it dies. This isn't practical - 40 gal for three bathrooms, but it is the cheapest path

Another voice says manage the places on your timeline and don't be so cheap. The utilities are split, keep them split as you never know when 2 units will come in handy.

Then the third voice says, pull them both out and put in a big ol' 80 gal. unit. They are family after all.

They may all be family but there is no guarantee that they won't decide to pack up and move to Florida next week. Keep the water heaters and the plumbing separated.

I had a family (Husband, wife, grown daughter) living in one of my duplexes. Year or so later their grown son moves into another duplex on the same block. Another year or so and the unit next to him opens up. The parents moved into it.

I kept utilities as they were. They all stayed there for years. It was like a little commune. I even let them put a small fence up and they took care of the yard inside. Just stakes in the ground, but it looked nice.

The little ones that came along were able to walk to grandma's by simply walking out the door and turning.