If you want to do that, invest in a crystal ball...and let me know where you got it.It can't be done...and you don't need to do it. 

If anyone can give me some advice on how they started out and what approaches I can try to get the ball rolling I would greatly appreciate it.

Aka playing "hard ball", if the Seller is trying to stonewall you and then back out and sell to someone else at a higher price, you have effectively made the property unsalable until your case is resolved or dismissed, but you're not spending huge $$$ to actually litigate it. 

And, often, it's one of these offers you lose out to (for a top dollar motivated seller), not a cash offer (the fastest close motivated seller would accept a lower cash offer that can close in 7 days - and not even respond to your offer).I can't offer commentary on why one particular offer of yours wasn't accepted, no crystal ball over here, and I'm also not commenting on any specific listing agent, all I can do is confirm for you that I'm not out of business, ergo the majority of these "cash offers over asking" are fictitious creations of listing agents representing the best interests of their seller clients. 

They said as long as it was my primary for a month or so. 6 months is just a ball park.

It is perfectly legal to submit a reconsideration of value after the appraisal has been completed or to tell them up front what you think the ball park value is (however, they cannot engage in the conversation saying that they agree or disagree).

However, keep your eye on the ball.

One of the realtors I talked to recently said OOS investors making low ball offers are simply being laughed at and not even responded to by sellers.

@Richard GrayIt's your ball, your court.  

@Emily Beatty good story with a lesson to always put in an offer and see who is willing to play ball.