The good 'ol delay tactic to get past your contingency date.

Must be scare tactics in play...?

If there's another tactical advantage to bidding so high on select properties. 

Those are just a few tactics I know.

Are there other similar tactics I should consider?

A way that I have learned from an appraiser of many decades to help with this is the following tactics.  

I have previously utilize the 1031 tactic and Loved it.

Now, I don't want to downplay the role of your personal 'why' - however, in every potential transaction you take part on from this day forward, the 'why' you should concern yourself most with is that of the sellers.As we learn more and more about artful tactics to employ in our impassioned pursuit of the next investment, we must never underestimate the power of truly understanding WHY the seller is selling.

Many people I have seen over the years buy the property (The tactic), then figure out how to use it best (The Strategy), and never once think to see if it really is taking them to THIER desired outcome (Goal)To me this is completely backwards..

I hate that tactic because once they get you to sign the bottom line they go out and cherry pick the best houses that they want to insure.