However, to sweeten our offer, we tend to include other concessions in our PSA to increase our chances of getting awarded the deal, but nothing as extreme as EMD going hard on Day 1!

My husband is an amazing contractor that worked for reputable and award winning construction company in the Bay Area, CA.

The big thing was finding an agent that came highly recommended by peers that had worked with him personally. he & his partner had also won many nationally recognized awards & certifications as well which backed up the experience friends of mine had with him. 

I cant see a judge awarding anything to the LL beyond one months rent which the deposit will cover.

Even though the landlord is awarded judgement and the tenant is supposed to leave, they never do.

Seems somewhat mean to take 10 application fees and only award the property to one.

One of them mentioned that many of the deals that are being awarded right now are doing something very strategic, although not new by any means.He said that most of the awarded deals are now making their initial earnest money HARD on day one of the contract. 

If it took you another month to rent the unit you may have been awarded part of the deposit to recoup for damages but the court wasn't there to enrich you.I am not an attorney, my comment is based on my understanding of contract law.

If you go this route, you should ask the attorney:(1) what amount he or she expects would be awarded in damages,(2) what the process is for collecting a damages award if the Tenant won't willingly pay,(3) what the fee structure is and what it will cost you to collectIf you hire an attorney, he or she may start by writing a demand letter to the Tenant explaining your legal position and demanding an amount of money to forego filing a lawsuit. 

Thanks for the input, and I did highly consider this option, but the court awarded us with a judgement for all the back rent, and I live in a lower income area, so for this particular property I only get $625 a month per unit, and the lawyer fee for the eviction process is $400, and takes a few weeks.