They will change their minds, but you gotta put up cameras and be prepared yourself to deal with any partiers.

Like @Patti Robertson said, be prepared to move fast, and possibly pay more than you’d like, but don’t compromise your integrity by doing LSOAP flips.

What if you used a few drops of super glue while click locking the planks together?

I could go on... it has been time to step away from the party lines and see that they are using this to keep you locked in identity politics. the current cabinet politics are anti american, anti middle class. they simply high jacked the democrat party and hiding in its shell within which they are fully evolving as a fascist dictatorship tyranny.  

Any ideas on how to lock up this property before the auction? 

Educate yourself and be prepared.

As everyone above has advised to increase the rent and welcome the tenant to move out, I would advise taking a different stance at least in the beginning by asking yourself what you are prepared to lose over $80. 

We're prepared from a financing perspective but I'm hoping to learn more about the process of actually finding and closing on the right investment property in the Charlotte market, specifically:1) Recommendations for Charlotte REI networking groups - I've seen a few mentioned in different threads here but they appear event-specific from this past month2) Ideas on approaching the property search - Are there local RE agents / firms that specialize in REI properties around town?

I suggest you change the locks, give her keys, and have her buy some security cameras that she monitors through her phone.

I've heard from a lot of investors in this area that GC's (at least good ones) are impossible to lock down due to the nature of the market.I'm considering hiring individual contractors for all the different specialties, and trying to find a PM to oversee the rehab to make sure work is getting done.