Most landlords know you care but these are temporary homes. We don't expect you to rent the place if you don't like it. It is your decision, you can't expect to come in and renovate it like it was "your" home. If we did make it like our home you would like and appreciate it but the next person may trash it. We just did the basics and left it move in clean. That was the top compliment of our renters, even in the low income area. We did not buy in the low income, my husband rented in a temporary housing development put in by the government for A/C workers during the war. When it was no longer need they could not tear it down because it would displace to many people. When the government sold it he bought the one he lived in. He never got rid of anything even homes he had lived in.

Good to know that my instincts were correct in regards to the GC who wanted to simply stuff the window back in place. As for going cheap: I wouldn't do another Gel Wend ever. This may not be our forever house, but the window sits right over a bed, and keeps the room blazing hot or freezing cold, depending on the season. Hopefully,this replacement window will improve the temperature control. Wish I could replace all of the junky windows in the house, but as it is, this is coming out of my miniscule kitchen update budget, so I want to be wisely frugal. It seems that both of these recommended windows are comparable, and given the large price difference, I'm just wondering whether there are specific installation questions that I should be asking to determine whether the less expensive bid also comes with a shoddy installation :) If not, I would certainly go with the Simonton for value and price. I have attempted to upload some photos here, but can only seem to upload one at a time. Hopefully, you can get an idea of what we're dealing with despite the heat reflective screens in place. One long window sits on top of a center picture window, with two sliders on either side of that. I will attempt to upload an inside shot next. Bear with me as I have ancient software and little time to learn the ins and outs of image enhancement...Thanks!

@salonva preliminary picture of the new countertops and sink!!! I'm really enjoying the new countertops. The fabricator is coming to do a second layer of sealant on the countertops too. We really love how this color looks. We worked on replacing 1/2 of the hinges yesterday with invisible ones- I'm hoping the rest will be done by the end of the week and that we may be able to paint the cabinets this coming weekend (at least the uppers!!) With that in mind, after seeing the countertops installed and envisioning the pure white cabinets, I'm thinking a white backsplash will look too sterile. I think once we have the cabinets painted I will do a separate post asking for new backsplash tile recommendations! but I figured I would share how the new countertops came out, The river white really looks nice!

Thank you all for the wealth of info. Did some reading and Need some HVAC-101 here. The outside unit houses the condenser AC unit and it works with the Evaporator coil which is usually situated inside the house right? In my house, the attic has the evaporator coil and furnace. So when we buy a AC Unit, we need to match the outside unit with the evaporator coil and all my quotes had this. The furnace is separate by itself correct? Took some photos, my AC tech did show me the inside of the Evaporator coils for the upstairs and it was corroded and crumbly. Having said that, it looks like my furnace may have not been the problem at all and I automatically assumed it was bad. Regardless the recommendation was to replace the whole AC and Furnace as the Furnace was $1700 something where as If I replaced it at separate times , it would cost higher. This is what I was told. Anyway can you guys please take a look at these pictures and tell me if the furnaces look real bad? I was thinking of the following options - 1. Replace just outside AC units with the corresponding evaporator coils. 2. Replace my bad 2.5 ton AC unit and the furnace. Sounds like it would be a bad idea to use a new 14 seer RUUD AC unit with new evap coil and still keep this old Lennox Furnace? 3. Leave the furnaces alone and just replace the 2.5 ton AC unit with new evap coil. Then replace the 2 ton ac unit when it starts giving trouble and still keep the other furnace until it starts giving trouble. The cost of the furnace appears to be cheaper when replacing it with the AC unit verses replacing furnaces separately 4. Any harm installing a new AC unit and use the existing Furnace? Downstairs Furnace - Opened the lid for the other furnace..anything looks bad to you guys? Both of my furnaces had a steady "flashing red and green" together and per the specs that is "normal" operation. So sounds like I might get away with just replacing 1 AC unit and the Evap coil and to get the better pricing for furnace..just replace it along. Thoughts/Comments? Thank you all for being so patient with me.