You could have those dates booked on Vrbo instead if the dates were open and your ranking on your main platform would be higher which led to more exposure. 99% times, getting a higher ranking on one platform worth way more than picking up a few bookings unless a few bookings are what you are looking for.

(B) A purchase agreement may provide that in the event of a dispute regarding the disbursement of the earnest money, the broker will return the money to the purchaser without notice to the parties unless, within two years from the date the earnest money was deposited in the broker's trust or special account, the broker has received one of the following:(1) Written instructions signed by both parties specifying how the money is to be disbursed;(2) Written notice that a court action to resolve the dispute has been filed.

If your contract states that "time is of the essence", you could have forfeited your right to break the contract and get your EMD back simply by not adhering to the dates specified in the contract.

Get a lot of rentals first then worry about it at a later date.

One of my first--and biggest to date-- blunders in real estate was working with a contractor that I deeply connected with. 

I showed him the parts that talk about dates/term of the lease (one standard and other my “Others” note) and his high confidence we can use this clause stems from that.

When the date came he said he wasn't going to submit it by the online app (stipulated in the lease) but would have it in cash and that we could come pick it up (we live 3 hours away). 

@Weronika Jedrak  I don't reach out to unmatched leads unless it is for dates and we are pretty close, others always do.

Here in Cali we don’t even have a date on when we can hope to start an eviction process.

Who had no problem with my request to use the actual date.