Hey Andrew, conventional loans offer lower interest rates but they require 20% down payment.

What I did on appliances, I wouldn't supply them but I let them know I had an affiliate vendor who DID offer a "Rent To Own" on appliances for any tenant's I/we had.   

The seller only knows what you/your agent told and/or given them ie the pre-approval included in the offer.

They might be able to offer a business line of credit, as an example.

I've built a small network in Philadelphia, and even made an offer on an apartment building there!

I'm finding some great sellers in Orange County who like that option to help with their capital gains liability...you just need an agent who knows how to present that type of offer.  

It was a super cool single-family property, yet for some reason, the listing hadn't received any offers on offer day.

It works incredibly well for real estate because it offers flexibility, liquidity, and allows you to make your dollars (cash value) more efficient by allowing them to work in two places at once (in the policy itself in participating policies by earning contractually guaranteed interest and dividends as well as in the investment you leverage your cash value for).

Gene can you offer some insight as well? 

You could offer to pay him more if he gets the work done within a certain day.