Another approach is have someone find you such a solid brick and hardwood you know low maintenance... little rental sf from the 1950s or just as good the 60s... carpenters guilded.

Then we decided to remove all carpet and continue hardwood floors along the existing hardwood floors.

Kitchen, Living, Stairs, Hardwood Refinish and Misc.For my house it had hardwoods throughout the main floor, decent tile in the finished sections of the basement and one sunken living space needed new flooring.

The contractors I've used in the past have been a mixed bag (I have a great hardwood floor guy & painter, others not so much). 

We have had just a few projects along the way, including, new electric panel box, new electric in the bathroom and kitchen, new Pex plumbing in the whole house, a support wall teardown + header beam install, whole house installation of recessed lights, new drywall in the kitchen and bathroom, new sub-floor in the kitchen and bathroom, and new hardwood floors in the entire house.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good hardwood floor refinisher in the Milwaukee area?

With that budget, I can do any one of the following:1) Refinish the hardwood floors.

Had to un-bury it in her garage.Removed wall, relocated dryer, added wall heater and $300 of hardwood I installed.Getting there! 

Now, those homes have gorgeous hardwood floors, an excellent open kitchen etc. 

Wait a minute, are the floors solid hardwood flooring?