A very seasoned investor will have a different response than a seller with emotional ties to the property.If the house is in great shape, top of the market range for size/age/quality,  sellers are usually only concerned with price and who is most likely to get to the closing table...On the opposite end of the spectrum, if the property has condition issues, then it comes down to who is able to take on that burden (cash/203(k)) and get to the closing table.If competing with regular buyers, waving inspection/financing contingencies and buying with cash can make a difference, but that also depends on how deep of a discount you're trying to get.If competing with cash buyers on a distressed property, you pretty much don't have a choice but to wave contingencies and come in with a decent offer.

IE tie up a big property get it entitled for lots.. ( usually 100 to 150k of risk money on my part) then flip to Lennar or Horton.

Yes, you would be stepping in the shoes of the seller....with the tenant having an option to buy.  

(I can still see Mom out there in her long wool coat, those ridiculous zip-up rubber boots with the fake fur on them...and oh yes, the scarf tied on her head...shoveling as hard as any man every could!!)

My wife (who notices such things) thinks it wasn't great to begin with.Gail, your question of putting myself in her shoes is a good one, and that cuts to the heart of the matter.

To tie back to Josh's original post, the heads of FM & FM aren't one iota better than these other companies.

I was able to tie it up for 5 years before I had to pay anything.

Meaning we have way too much money tied up in it.

Also if it hasn’t been addressed, was the inspector a person of your choice,recommended by seller, or in any way affiliated or has ties with the seller?

You could end up in a situation where the installers slam in your project without taking the time to do it the best way that it could be done.An independent contractor would not be tied to HD's products and could therefor provide you with a wider range of solutions and a wider range of pricing.Hope this helps.