However, it's extremely difficult to remove a tenant due to COVID, and your options are reduced down to cash for keys and persuasion (unless there's criminal activity). 

Preppers are nuts, whatever the political persuasion! 

I always tell myself “when my head is on straight I am unstoppable”, getting to that point can take some internal persuasion.

If you recorded after the failed closing, in the right light it could appear retalitory, so it sounds like the other side just had a more persuasive attorney...

He talked everything beautifully and persuasively.

Prior to me taking over my previous PM collected their late fee and was never persuasive against turning rent in late as a late fee was additional income to them.

This is much more persuasive than a lump sum.  

I'm rather persuasive so even though a 5% return on a couple grand isn't the best, it is still better than a .1% interest wasting in a bank account.

Some people have personal management challenges and even serious issues (hoarding,etc) that even most persuasive landlord can't overcome.You might appeal to the neighbors' interest in keeping up property values and your ability to get them "good neighbors". 

And I credit this to being able to write persuasive letters that clearly outline my case.