Your intention is to sell the property to someone else and make a profit.

Having to pay a mortgage somewhere and rent somewhere else sounds incredibly stressful. 

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In general it sounds like "help me help you" is the best approach, what else has worked for people as far as things to offer?

When I was wholesaling, the hardest thing to do was to find reliable contractors who could get the job done and not leave the house a total mess. 

Does anyone else prefer good old buy-and-hold long-term rentals?

You did your due diligence and everything else was acceptable to you?

What one person finds nice might be horrible for someone else and vice versa.

Has anyone else run into anything equivalent?

The tenants have skin in the game so wont mess up (e.g., not pay rent).I'm sure you'll get it rented soon; but just wanted to share an outside-the-box option that was successful for me.