My offer on a REO was rejected as too low - the issue with the townhouse is listed at (1)"system did not hold pressure due to damages, unable to find source of allleaks, water heater damaged at side where TPR valve damaged" and (2) "Water Supply and Sewage system was inspected for presence of obvious visible defects.

I just try to have good tools in place to make the process run as smooth as possible and get my to my goal with ease.

Seems like they are just stalling for a better offer to me.Anyone have any techniques I could use to put the pressure on this seller and get them to respond?

You won't have a short term balloon either which gives you time to market the property and not get pressured in to taking a bad offer because you are up against a balloon.

@Evan Ventura,People here on BP have also successfully used the cheap IKEA countertops (around $75-99 for a piece). at that price they where treated as expendables (one per tenant), and some even reported getting the install time with demo at 2-4 hours.for the other, you need to "waterproof" the common points of water entry:-caulk between the wall and countertop-use varnish on points contacting sink-use good glue near the oven/range since the usual pressure-activated glue does not fare well with heat

The ease of use is also quite nice because they do everything online. 

There was an awful lot of loosening that occurred in the late 1990s and 2000s ... we were several steps behind our southern neighbours, but there was lots of industry pressure to head down the deregulation line right behind them.  

These are high pressure sales jobs with tremendous turnover of the sales team.  

I would have the system pressure tested before you decide to start repairing.We bought a duplex where the bank had let the oil run out and the heating system froze.  

That will apply more upward pressure to values in the area, as I think the shopping center is kind of a drag on values currently.