how do property management companies process a rental application?

i put in an application to rent a house, and i'm waiting to hear back from the property management company. i'd like to know what they are doing that's taking so long. They say it usually takes three days. they started processing my application last Thursday. on friday they called me (10 mins before the close of business) and left a message asking for an alternate number for my former landlord. he never answers my calls or my e-mails so i don't know that he'll ever get back to them, but i did try and give him an alternate number for him via voice mail. now i'm just wondering what is taking so long to get an answer from them. what could be holding up the works? i have fairly good credit, a cosigner, i'm paying 6 months rent up front, but as far as i can tell they haven't made any attempt to contact my personal references. i even have reference from my Realtor whom i rented from before. what's taking so long? part of my problem is i've been couch surfing since the beginning of the month and i'm wearing out my welcome. i'm unable to do anything but sit on my butt all day and wait for them to give me an answer. (i'm on summer break, i'm a 28 year old student) even if they say no i wish that they would just do it and get it over with so i can find someplace else. i just moved back to the states from the islands. i need a home so i can at least begin to get a part time job, right now i have nothing. i feel like island time has followed me. can anyone give me any insight to the process to ease my restless mind?