Seller is NOT Cooperating

[James Jacobs]

I am in the middle of a deal and am getting very frustrated with the seller. He'll seem totally on board for a day or two, then MIA for a week or two at a time.

I found this deal on Craigslist and there are no realtors involved. I'm getting conventional financing, so all money and title work is going through the proper channels. The seller didn't even ask me for earnest money, so the only out of pocket expense I have thus far is for the inspection. I am getting a phenomenal deal and really want this to work out.

I got a signed purchase agreement the 3rd week of July, and we haven't even gotten past the appraisal yet. I had him sign an amendment which extended the closing date to the third week of September, but things have just stalled recently.

Do any of you have any ideas as to what I could do at least to get him to let the appraiser into the property? I honestly don't think he's doing this on purpose, he just seems to be very lackadaisical and scatterbrained. 

I've called, texted, and even stopped by the guy's house a couple times, and he is unresponsive the last several days. One appraiser has already dropped the case, and the bank is on their second appraiser due to the seller not being cooperative. We've told the seller that he can have a family member, friend, neighbor, etc. let the appraiser in, but he always has a story or an excuse. Seems really odd to me.  

Any thoughts?