Also don't accept payment. if you have auto pay or online pay - close it so they can not make a payment. 

Online?

But what if brokers were incentivized to put their best deals online?

A few months ago I jumped into this game called 'investing in real estate' and so far this experience has been real good and rewarding.

Do you provide free wifi and have the tenants pay over a online website?

I had not considered borrowing from my TSP for a down payment - thank you for posting your question - it just gave me an option I didn't even realize I had.Just for that, I'll see if I can get the Navy guys to layoff a bit at the next football game! 

You don't want an owner taking away time and energy from other owners who would have committed to you as a buyer.It's a  cat and mouse game and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but there are more properties in the future on the market and off the market to consider.

Play the “what if” game for a while to understand where each of you stand on certain topics.

If its an auction dot com on line auction and not a trustee sale then no you have to close then sell. cant assign contracts with those folks. this specifically keeps the wholesalers at bey and allows investors a chance to go direct with out those pesky daisy chain deals.Most cant do a 15 day close either.. unless they are pro's IE have the cash in the bank and know how to do their own title searchs or have a premier account with thier title company that will fast track and do a clsoing in 3 days or so..

Point being you will end up ahead of the game if you just pony up the coin & replace the roof prior to selling.