For example, I'd like to upgrade kitchen countertops, but it is penny-wise pound foolish when I'll inevitably need a major kitchen design overhaul that will provide a suitable layout for a modern setup with disposal/dishwasher/microwave and sufficient space. 

If you use a service like Rebo and just pound and pound you will find a seller sooner or later that will just say there done.Today I opened escrow with a longtime wholesaler here in the Inland Empire, he told me he started working this out of town seller 2 years ago.  

I know if I were a contractor or handyman, unless responding to tenant "emergencies" was part of a business model, I'd tell you to go pound sand (unless the emergency was my doing as in your case with an ongoing remodel).

It’s all written in the contract in plain English as to what happens and where the money should go if the seller is dumb enough to allow this to fall apart.I had one in allentown ( I am the seller) buyer backs out literally last day.. and while not an appraisal issue point fingers at my agent.they want their 10k back I say go pound sand... we go to mediation pretty quickly my agent represents me since i am in Oregon. and we split the baby down the middles cost me a thousand to go to mediation got 5k netted 4k sell to next person. 

Also, I'm a mighty 5 foot even, 125 pounds. 

My ex GF still lives in one of the units, and might not feel comfortable to tell the tenants what I would like to tell them (please go find some sand and pound it), but we surely don't want them to assume they can move in another adult into the unit without any changes.  

If I were the Seller I would tell you to pound sand because who's to say there are more request coming down the line.I would go back and state that if the Seller does "X" then I will release all contingencies and guarantee closing.

Would you accept euros, or pounds, how about UAE Dirham?       

I'd like to suggest that you not call your lender and bring unwanted attention to your mortgage until you are more clear about what you intend to do.

We carried over 5000 lbs to the dump and probably burned a couple thousand more pounds of stuff.