Do you essentially just throw out those leads, or do you try to follow through with them despite being in areas with lower cash-buyer activity?

So I would start by apologizing and try to deescalate the situation, if it fails then follow what others have said.

Advertise rental through several streams (craigslist, sign, word of mouth, Zillow, potentially an agent depending on response rate)2. sign up for a background check service to check on prospective tenants3. cursory review of applicants4. submit a scaled-down list to background service and follow up on any referrals for potentials5.

Then ask them the follow up questions.Finding s good realtor takes some time.

We have a strict rule of " No pay No Stay " .  

Once you've revised your parameters then it could be helpful to find other people who are pursuing the path you want to follow and network with them.

As long as they can know what to expect on a given deal and you are able to consistently follow through, they will be happy. 

Very informative and easy to follow.

I'd also follow-up with your PM and ask, "does this mean that I should expect a drop in vacancy every year around this time?"

I would suggest you check out the following website for info about vacation rentals in general:  http://vrownersguide.com/ It is a vacation rental owners guide website.