It was a simple matter of coming in with a bid that satisfied the needs of the house while minding the needs of his wallet.

Cheap things I have done: paint, repaint cabinets, door hardware(crazy what grandma bronze to a brushed nickel can do), cabinet hardware if you have it, and updated outlets(cheap an very easy to rewire).  

Some light staging would have also benefited you as well as better quality door hardware.

I quit my job and bought a hardware store in December.

Painted the interior, painted the kitchen cabinets, replaced cabinet hardware, new stove & refrigerator, installed new vanities in the bathrooms, new carpet, and replaced the hot water heaterWhat was the outcome?

Paint, floors, countertops, light fixtures, and cabinet/door hardware.

Cabinets should be solid, easy to clean, without fancy hardware that's hard to adjust or replace.

And most of all, don’t advertise your wallet to the internet under any circumstances.

As a truck driver for a local lumber hardware store their really wasn't much I could do other than find a better paying job (so I thought...

Greatly appreciate the recommendation--it probably saved our deal and definitely saved our wallets.