Usually, if this hotel shop is not assigned, the due dates will change. The first time I did one, I had just signed up with them and didn't think I could ask for a different date, so I waited until the date I needed became available and requested it. They did hold off until the day before check-in to approve it, probably because they didn't know me from Adam and wanted to see if a more qualified shopper also requested it, but now I email ahead of time when I know I'm traveling.
You have to take a lot of photos, but these reports are very easy in comparison to any other hotel report I've seen, so you actually get a chance to enjoy your time away from home. Also, with these "lower end" hotels, you don't have to pretend to be fancy, snooty and demanding, and that's a big plus for me.
A Closer Look is great to work with and they offer a lot of support to new ACL shoppers.