It depends heavily on the size and quality of your buyer's list.

@NedCarey LOL for suggesting to remove the picture instead of cleaning up the rear yard.

If you see any quality lower-cost courses on wholesaling or marketing available locally or online, consider taking them. 

I would see this as a positive and an indication that if the community is safe and clean she will be a potential long term tenant.Another tenant may ask questions like, what utilities are included, what day of the month do late fees hit, how much are the late fees, do you check credit, etc.

@Ethan Mastrodonato The whole point behind having the security deposit is to protect the landlord against excess cleaning, breakage, or theft upon move-out.

Not amazing, but definitely a nice addition to a long term buy and hold portfolio as long as the area and tenant quality are at least average to good. 

From what you said it sounds like he values time over money so negotiate the money which it sounds like you have a good purchase price, unless you have to renovate the home to get it ready. but assuming you dont, pay the 3000 for consideration to lock the house up, market for your tenant buyer and get 5k-7500k for the option to purchase and tell them they have 3 years to clean their credit up to buy it.

I had to get a letter from the county stating they were enforcing the codes for this residence and this owner was in the court process of getting it cleaned up.

I think you will get a lot of value by listening to quality podcast and other educational functions.  

I've been searching around for cleaning/maint providers and have only contacted a few.