I have torn down and rebuilt my kitchen from floor to ceiling, replaced a load bearing wall with a 26 foot beam, done painting, plumbing, electric, drywall, and tiling.

I forgot to mention that they have a child on the way.

China is setting itself up for a large birth rate decline as their "one child" policy combined with a strong preference for boys is resulting in a large imbalance between the genders.I tried to locate some reference to this.

Here's wishing you have a very thick skin, your wife is an only child and she has very mature family members (her aunts, uncles and cousins who might also love to keep grandpa's or great-grandpa's property in the family).

National debt is $450K for every man woman and child in USA.

My favorite way still is taking only 'solds' for a short period of time(like 3 months tops) and instead of trying to figure or compare rooms and baths blah blah blah, figure out what the 'solds' price per square foot is and that will give you a more accurate and real number as to the value to your house.

I have a long list of banks I plan to call, but want to make sure I don't put my foot in my mouth, and I ask the right questions/have the right information available.

The well head is in a large plastic box with a lid  I just have to dig a foot of dirt and I am there .

Total cost is a nickel per sq foot. 

You can usually find some quality laminate with the pad for about 3$ square foot.