Can you give me the info to where probate auctions are held?

I don't think a gun was held to their head telling them to sign docs. 

Since they only have the property to fall back on they are more picky on location,quality,and reserves held.

But I had a smoker unit that I bit everything and it has held up so far.  

You are the custodian in a sense and held to a higher responsibility due to the extra demands and work associated with it.

I bought out one subdivisions of 30 lots 1/2 acre from a bank for 3k a lot held them 2 years and sold them off one by one for 30k each..  

@Erik BaumerHow is the contractor company held or titled?

I held on to it as I moved out of town and then guess what...It came in handy when I moved back to town and needed a place to live.

Would adding a letter to the lease signed by both parties with the apartment change but that they are still held liable to current lease terms until that lease terminates be a good idea?

@Charlie Moore assuming all 5 of them met all of your rental criteria (since you said they were "fantastic") then I'd go with the one you received a completed application from first, and for the rest of them send a short email or txt like @Nathan G. suggested.