The contractor also suggested gray kitchen cabinets.

Replacing a broken cabinet, for instance, is a repair item because it is not adding any value, or considered an improvement.  

I had a case like this where the tenant reported intermittent strong smells coming from the kitchen cabinets but every time I went there (I live nearby), somehow the smell was gone….  

I'm pretty handy and I can definitely do work with flooring, paint, cabinets, drywall, etc.

Updated both units, added central air, gutted and refinished bathrooms with nice finishes like tile, added more cabinets and changed layout in kitchenWhat was the outcome?

It'll take some upfront work but figure out how much painters charge per square foot for interior vs exterior, how much do they charge per square foot to lay tile, how much per square foot for carpet, how much per box for cabinets, how much per square foot for countertops, appliance package prices, etcYou could also use a price/square foot as an estimation and then add in major items like roof, HVAC, windows, plumbing, electrical etc.

Sure, doing a $5000 flooring job might not raise the value by $5000, but doing a partial remodel for $100k.....framing/drywall/electric/plumbing/floors/cabinets/counters/paint/etc... can raise the property value by $200k.

Maybe we can run an extension cord behind the wall down to the lower outlet.I was thinking a range hood with a new floating cabinet could work there and a hole can be cut to place the cabinet over the door bell.

Also, Inside laundry, great room, wood cabinets, concrete floor on main living area, carpet and tile on second floors.

It would also include the rehab (almost everything: some tile flooring was kept and we restored some of the cabinets rather than replaced, pretty much all else was replaced) and our use of the modified BRRR (we rehab typically when tenants move on if they are worth keeping and our rationale for reduced rents to keep tenant and postpone the rehab).