It will require a delicate and diplomatic tone and you may have get his family involved.

Had some minor re-work.ETA: Probably not useful in CA, but in FL, code-compliant windows (130MPH or Installed with Hurricane Shutter/Fabric provisions) can pay for themselves in insurance costs within a few years. 

A very small percentage of these folks actually reestablish contact and proceed with the application.Pros: (1) ABC "Always Be Closing" - ask for the "sale" at the closing on someone who seems solid; "A" tenants don't have a chance to get placed by someone else in the meantime or flake out when it comes to meet for the receipt of the deposit to hold(2) Streamlines the process IF the applicants check out (see below)Cons: (1) sketchy people have dressed nice and behaved long enough for me to accept their deposit (and then I am aghast when I start doing my screening) which finds me awkwardly returning the deposit on someone who was quite as good in reality as they claimed on paper(2) no time to do proper due diligence before accepting moneyI know some landlords take several apps (either all at one showing or in series over several showings within a day or two, then contact their "best choice" to offer the unit to them.My concern is there is a delicate dance that needs to be executed with great applicants, as they are looking for a place for the next month and can't sit idly waiting for a landlord to call them after reviewing their application.  

Here's my issue, with this delicate situation I am going to have her give me all her son's SSI information and put him on the lease as a co-signer.  

Since we declined to renovate the basement the tenants now want to put down a roll of carpet for some padding and maybe hang some nice fabric on the walls to cover the insulation and wood studs so that they can create a little play area for play dates at their own expense.What do you guys think?  

These types of issues are delicate especially when dealing with elderly populations.

These work really well, as long as they double them:https://www.amazon.com/Washing-Machine-Lint-Snare-Fabric/dp/B00COFAY78/ref=sr_1_13?

What they will do is find reasons to get out of the lease that are habitability reasons that are usually fabricated. 

You're going to have to PROVE your side of the story because as it sounds, these tenants are going to just fabricate stories to cover their butts and not have to pay you. 

I fabricated all 3 of my fire pits at my STRs, they are all wood burning.