Drainage Can Be A Major Issue With FHA

A transaction I worked on last year brought to light for me the power of an appraiser in an FHA transaction.

The exterior HVAC condenser unit sat on a mild angle on it's 3X3 concrete square at the side of the house. It sat on an angle because the home had no gutters in the back, the roof's rain runoff created a depression that was hardly noticeable.  The inspector made a note for the buyers to correct it some time in the future, but he wasn't too troubled by it. 

Lo and behold, here comes the appraiser, who notates the same issue and, instead of calling for a gutter system that would have solved the problem moving forward, he calls for a French drain. A $2000 French drain. 

I can't talk about the resolution to the situation but suffice it to say that creative negotiation was involved.

I've heard nightmare stories from agents about condition issues with FHA loans in the 1980s but that was the first time that my own business had a similar experience.

Have you had major troubles with FHA specific to property condition?