This is a great problem, but still a problem.If they truly all meet your objective criteria equally and you have no reason to suspect material differences, then I suggest you go with the applicant who got their formal application into you FIRST. 

If it's a lease violation, you need to send her formal notice to cure or quit (in my state it's a 7 day notice) for the extra person plus the utility situation.  

To account for utility increases we have been raising rents in the last few years instead of implementing a formal RUBS program. 

Didn't you receive formal notice that the bill was unpaid?

Formal basic and advanced areas, then the sizzle niches in your market.

Any education is only what you make of it--from formal schooling to real estate seminars.  

I do have a couple of suggestions for you to consider...Tenants:  Communicate formal business hours to your tenants, provide a phone number other than yours (google voice is a free service that transcribes incoming voicemail messages into emails) that answers with a voicemail greeting that reinforces your business hours, and talk with them about what is/is not an emergency. 

By his own admission, he didn't have any formal training in finance other than that required for a loan originator.A RMLO (mortgage originator) is required to take a 20 hour class and a 100 question exam, about as in depth as a real estate agents license as to laws pertaining to mortgage originations.

Or did you have some kind of formal sit down with them and "pitch" them hoping they would sign on as investors?

Broad stroke concepts before a formal PSA or Option is executed.