all too many others have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows.""

Recently with the heavy rain we have been getting a small stain appears on two of the ceiling tiles during the rain storms.

I use patterned ones that look like granite or marble or quartz or similar so that stains and minor scratches don't show, and don't use a shiny surface - use as close to matte as possible - and light colors. 

If they are so stubborn or shortsighted to see they get more this way than an outright sale, then just do a normal outright sale.

My carpet had a few stains and the walls had few touch-ups.

If a seller is being this stubborn they 1) have very little motivation to sell, and 2) don't like to listen to professional advice.

mainly cosmetic: stained floors, repaint, may need to replace carpet with hard wood, resurface cabnets, new shower, repatch water damage. 

My carpet had a few stains and the walls had few touch-ups.

Show them your beat to crap truck and your wardrobe of caulking stained shirts and jeans. 

There are a few stains but are probably removable by professional carpet cleaner.