Refinishing the cabinets with a little DIY sweat was definitely the way to go ... champagne looks on a budweiser budget :) Also totally agree with your philosophy to DIY the small jobs now so you can better manage contractors on the bigger jobs tomorrow ... this is the only way to develop those "Spidey senses" in foreseeing contractor issues around estimates, quality of work, etc.I agree that a backsplash would be icing on the cake.

I'm looking for recommendations for contractors to help me renovate/make ready a 4 unit apartment building built in 1919.Specifically I need an electrician that is experienced in rewiring old buildings like this one, a good/honest plumber that can help update some piping, figure out where certain shutoffs are, possibly install manifolds to allow water shutoff to each floor individually, etc.I also need recommendations for great hardwood flooring specialists, I need to do a lot of sand/stain/poly refinishing.  

Ever since I was young my father taught me how to refinish floors.

Floors need refinishing, walls need painting, minor repairs, possibly a new roof.  

I'm looking for someone that can troubleshoot, service, refinish, anything pool related.

first of all there are no pictures of the kitchens if you are referring to themif rent is only 600 per month, 3,000 per kitchen would take you forever to recovernot sure what maintenance issues from the kitchen you are referring to, but even without looking at what you have, I would refinish them

I was hoping to have them refinished and was looking for advice on that process.

My first property was an owner occupied duplex, and when I moved in I just had the floors refinished and then painted it myself, but I could have easily lived there without doing either of those things.

The hardwood floors have a couple re-finishing jobs left in them. 

Much easier then refinishing them.