Fully renovated house with three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

You have a full basement, more bathrooms, more bedrooms, maybe two living spaces, a garage, a yard, gutters, trees, fence, driveway etc. - all things you don't have in a small apartment.

The other looks like the original tile, thrown in bath and Home Depot vanity.

It needed a new kitchen, new bathroom, new floors, a new porch roof, and needed to be totally rewired.   

GC I spoke with  says without adding another bathroom, project could be done in 3-5 months for $40-50k.

My primary residence is currently being remodeled- new kitchen and bathrooms.

So, trying to convince her to have a stranger share a bathroom might be the most challenging feat I've faced. 

Live in renovations for something like a kitchen or bathroom upgrade are possible but messy.

But renting an entire apartment or house is not cheaper than a hotel room, which is only a bedroom and bathroom. 

Example: replacing the bathroom vanity.My question: If I were to take pictures and a video of the thing needing repair and show it to someone at Home Depot or Lowes, would they be able to guide me on what to buy and what to do?