That will sweeten the deal for them and they will be more likely to work favorably on this project, which in the end will improve your property and the living condition for these and future tenants.About the seven stumps.... you need to know where they're located, their size, and what kind of plant they were.

My intent was to sell at face value with a 10% interest rate and sweeten the deal by agreeing to do the work to clean up the property if it came back to us and if I wasn't willing to do that I'd lose my portion of the note giving more security to the note investor. 

Or you could consider paying points up front to sweeten the deal.I wish you all the best with this new venture. 

Ultimately I’m seeing all deals will sweeten overtime.

(Read: My high end car lease is coming due...)Everyone else: No, not really, but they may sometimes help sweeten the deal a little and very rarely "protect you"...if and only if they have an EQ greater than a salted peanut.

Listen to your agent and let the buyer know that you simply canNOT pay more than the appraised value.Having said that, what a lot of ppl do is they leave money in reserve out of sight of the seller, so they need to sweeten the deal, they can do so.

Ideas  :1) give seller a little less upfront  and  maybe sweeten the rate you provide them on the  note ..use the  funds  saved from the down to do  the  rehab 2) leverage  other  properties including your  primary home 3) HELOC on  subject  property  ( if you can locate a  willing heloc lender )4) personal loans 5) leverage  401K accounts 

We also keep creamer and sweetener stocked for the guests as well!

Are there specific terms that can sweeten the deal one way or another?

Their equity considerations:Gift cardCleaningNew depositsMoving effortFinding another place cheaper than yoursYour equity considerations:Market rentVacancyTurnover costsYou have the leverage and you can build more leverage by sweetening the deal.