Basically, I am just saying that if you open things up, you will also be opening your wallet, so take what ever budget you have for finishes and at least double that for the stuff you cannot see... 

If I did this I'd put in granite slab and a tile backsplash. 15 years ago when I bought the place I put new hardware on the cabs and called it a day.Once you start ripping these cabinets, you start creating a whole lot of work with the soffits etc.

If you can not find contractors, go to a local, family owned, non-big box hardware store and ask them if they can recommend anyone. 

@Kanwar Sodhi hopefully you have solved your squirrel problem by now, but try Ace Hardware in Douglasville if you need traps, repellents and other supplies.

I mean, hey, I came late in life to financial sanity and the decision to invest and retire early, and made lots of stupid decisions early, but I'm in my mid 50's now and have people my age that are just pitiful.A friend of ours posted on Facebook that her husbands wallet was stolen and they don't know how they are going to survive till payday because it had almost a hundred dollars in it and now they can't buy gas to get to work.100 bucks is a disaster?  

Looking at strong markets on Forbes, Nerd Wallet, here, etc can help you get pointed in the right direction.

Same with hardware and finishes between properties.

That can cause an over-voltage condition - meaning that everything on that circuit and possibly others is at risk.Oh yes - it can also burn the place down if the over-voltage causes an electrical fire.Quick check - get a voltmeter at the hardware store. 

The usual course is to paint the cabinets a glossy white and add brushed nickel knobs and replace a few small pieces of hardware so that they close properly and look alright. 

If it's stained, it isn't that difficult to paint; just use a special foam roller...your hardware store can point you to them.