If you work with the tenant and their needs instead of fighting them, you may have better luck with the move-out going smoothly and be able to mitigate damages.

If the outgoing tenant really has a place to take all of her belongings, I would negotiate with her to do the bulk of the move on the 30th at your expense, if she will return possession of the unit and return the keys by sundown on the 31st. 

I think the best approach is to assume that the ENTIRE scenario was fueled by emotions/hormones, and make the conscious decision to block that out. Go

You are then going to use the tenants deposit and advanced rent, whilst the property is "out of service" to complete your checks.I do not believe that this would not be acceptable if you were hauled up on it if the outgoing tenant took this further.The tenant is giving you an option to keep the property "in service", and you have an obligation to go down that route, qualify the new tenant, and hand the property to the new tenant, to keep your losses as low as possible, and to keep your claim on the outgoing tenant as low as possible. 

But, I'd also add a clause or addendum they all sign, that says the current tenant and the outgoing tenant are to make arrangements between themselves regarding reimbursing the outgoing tenant any security deposit money.  

Some landlords are vindictive, and yes there are cases where someone is sued who already moved out.  Going

She forks over the $30 for two people to be screened and I explain that ALL four adults must be screened and she tells me I'll have to wait until after the first of the year to get the remaining money because "$60 is a lot of money to give at one time" but tells me to keep the paperwork on them until then.At this point I'm totally confused on who gets what in terms of disability (the only thing I know is that, somehow, I'm not renting to THIS tribe) so I gather up all the paperwork, usher these folks out, go home and when I poke through the application find they failed to fill out half of it, including the part that states they've never been evicted before (STRIKE THREE).

The previous seller had his hang ups with him, yet when I met him he seemed outgoing and was easy to converse with.

That does not happen by accident, you must spec what you want.The wire shelves allow for easier painting on turns, (easy quick) visual conformation that the outgoing renter has not left (a handgun, illegal substances, or a big dead bug) up there.I am not aware of these ubiquitous shelves being a danger to life...Seems like the tail wants to wag the dog here--maybe a harbinger of things to come.Either the renter or you are the boss...maybe a harbinger of things to come.Good Luck!

As long as the numbers work now and (potentially) when you move out, go for it.I purchased a house almost two years ago (my 4th) that was my highest ever (monthly and interest rate).