Lots of older buildings have loose bricks plus cracks in the wall.

New windows, paint, lights, appliances, flooring and wall repairs.

New windows, paint, lights, appliances, flooring and wall repairs.

Plan for the worst when dealing with huge projects because there are so many unknowns when you open up walls.

I can see the writing on the wall that I think I'm about to be laid off.

I can see the writing on the wall that I think I'm about to be laid off.

Most new chimneys are double-walled insulated pipe. 

Here's a few reasons I don't think $6k is unreasonable:Removing a popcorn ceiling and retexturing is generally about a $1/sf by itself (1,400sf x $1.00/sf) = ~$1,400Removing wallpaper can be labor intensive and can require additional wall prep. 

I'm going to just use the stud space for air returns in 3 rooms, but I need a Tamarack grille with baffle over the door in the 4th because of the walls.

@Jaron Walling thanks for the advice!