I'm trying to look beyond HD and Lowe's to generate more choices for a cabinet replacement I am doing in a 10 X 8.25 kitchen.

If you have the contractor do it then it seems like you are signing up a contractor, they order the cabinets, then they go away for 6-8 weeks it takes for the cabinets to arrive.  

Give me some time and I will post photos...but we touched everything except HVAC/water heater/ kitchen cabinets(painted them) and countertops.

Also, check on Craigslist, ebay, Amazon, Nextdoor, Facebook marketplace, and other local buy/sell apps for deals*  Cabinets - If you are going to rehab the kitchen and bathrooms, look for RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets.

If you are in city limits each city is different but in general homeowners don't need permits to change light fixtures, flooring, painting, repairing drywall, changing kitchen cabinets, replacing non-structural plumbing (faucet, toilet, showerhead), change light switches or outlets.

If they decide to empty the kitchen cabinets and crawl in there each night, that's their choice.

We need this done in October before we can install our new cabinets and countertops. 

 $20k for a full kitchen in my houses (cabinets, counters, backsplash, appliances, flooring, paint, etc): $110/mo.  

For example, a kitchen will cost far more than a living room because you have cabinets, counters, backsplash, appliances etc, but maybe you find a place that has outdated but well built cabinets that just need to be painted and new hardware added which will save you a lot. 

HI guys,I have an out of state property that Ive been renting out for one year.I asked the tenant to move out, when she moved out, there was lots of trash, some weird stuff on the walls, broke cabinets, smell of marijuana (in the state marijuana is not legalized), damaged flooring, etc..I had to repaint and change the flooring.Now she says that if I dont return her deposit she will sue me.I dont think she deserves her security deposit back because she left so much damage.But, I did not have a property management company, hiring a lawyer is usually more expensive than her security deposit.I have a full time job and cant take time off to deal with flying to court hearing over 1K of security deposit.I am trying to persuade myself to just give it back to her, but cant come to peace with that decision.All these obnoxious tenants, who drain landlords, just really make me sick.Any word of wisdom guys?