Maybe I am confused or maybe there isn't enough info here...THE PMC worked for free this entire time handling an unfortunate situation that was not likely either party's fault.

With actual cash, you just transfer it. yes, but you can still bid with lender approval - without appraisal contingency - you send in deal (app), it gets approved by lender its functionally the same as cash (except in true lightning speed situations where there is a quick auction with little time to prep but thats generally pretty rare I'd think)Right, but that's not cash or functionally the same as cash because the lender can change the terms at the last minute, as often happens with less experienced hard money lenders.

Consider your financial situation and future plans.

It could be stressful if there is a plumbing or heating issue and you're several hours away. 

Offering 50% of the cleaning fee for cancellations within 48 hours seems like a fair middle ground.You might want to set up a clear policy with her going forward so everyone’s on the same page for situations like this.

In this IDEAL situation the savings is minimal.  

I will return to this situation in the end of this post, but first let me show you why the age of a person can be tricky when it comes to the IRS.

What are the pros and cons of each situation?  

You're definitely in a unique situation, but there are some SOPs that apply here. #1, know your guest avatar.

Quote from @Pierce Mooney: I'm also in this situation.