If it was in the application phase I would handle it one way, but since he has a signed lease based on his application I am unsure what to do.To add to my concerns and time constraints, he texted me to say that they are arriving in town tonight and want to know if they can move in instead of waiting until Thursday.Any advice from more experienced landlords would be greatly appreciated.

A couple times they weren't sure what time they'd arrive, so they just paid the rent and I sent them a key.Just vet them like anyone else.  

Now if the application arrives and there are lots of previous rentals, it would be a red flag, if she was in the last place for quite a while I would think its just been a long time and she doesn't understand the process.  

I've had tenants who've ignored texts, email, voicemail, door knocks...but within an hour of that notice going up their door (or a certified letter arriving from my attorney), I hear from them (cell phone was dead/lost/stolen, email account was hacked, internet down, they were in the hospital, on vacation, etc.). 

If you are evicting someone from their home it is impossible to predict how they will react so don't be surprised when the odd one arrives on the crazy train at your front door.

The neighbors called me and I arrived just before the police did.

If you pass over someone that makes an accusation, you will have your documentation to prove how you arrived at your choice.2.

I can definitely see why someone would want to secure their housing before they arrived in a new area.  

Tell them to rent a trailer and borrow a friends truck because your new tenants are arriving on the 1st. with them there or not.  

+3 Cozy, only complaint is it may take 3-5 processing before it arrives in your account.