FlyerInHI, you’re being way too fancypants here 🙂 No need to tear out the existing cabinets. Clean them up and repaint them. Takes about a day. Stove and dishwasher can be had for $400 for both on Craigslist, and a lot of HGTV watchers throw out perfectly good 5 year old appliances because zOMG they need to renovate. Say a grand for the countertops, and you’re up to $2000 if you re-tile the kitchen floor and change the range hood.
The house I grew up in still has its original 1950s kitchen, albeit with a slightly newer (1970s?) stove and new dishwasher. Nothing wrong with it: still works as well as any other kitchen I’ve used.
Bathroom: paint, floor tile, new cutoff valves, new toilet, new sink, new medicine cabinet, new vent blower can be done for about $2000 as well. You end up with a clean space to live. Nothing fancy, but not squalid either.
Spend the other $1000 on things like A/C units, new carpet if needed, etc.
$5,000 for an Ikea kitchen, including appliances if you do the demo and install yourself. For the price you might be able to get granite counter tops (usually about $1000 for an apartment size kitchen).
If you change electrical, plumbing, get permits, etc… the price goes up.
To remodel a 2/2 condo you’re looking at closer to $15k – $20k, for kitchen and baths, depending on how much you DIY. Plus add flooring at a minimum of $5/sf for material and install.
