why, oh why must lending me so messy?

So, there I was feeling sick waiting for a close that I hoped would close. I say hope, because two days before the closing date I was still sending needed documents.  Oh, I warned them. I warned them all. No way we can close that quickly. When do you get your check? Well, the closing is set at 4:30 in the afternoon so plan on at least another day or two. Oh? Okay, let's close four days early anyway, just in case.  Twenty phone calls, a frustrated closer, an upset client, a confused agent, and a big mess later... The closing gets moved to another day. Imagine that! 

I find myself wondering how I could have handled that situation differently.  I suggested, listed problems that could arise, I wanted to wait, but how do you convince another agent, their client, and your client, that waiting four more days is not a bad thing?

Any suggestions on how to better handle this type of situation, ( I hope I never have again) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.