Only 10 years old with warping? Sounds odd to me.

It doesn't hurt to get an estimate for a moderate amount of repairs.

Do they have to move now?

Check out Ikea cabinets if they are available near you. You may be suprised at what you can do for a modest price. There are a number of Ikea kitchens you can check out in the Kitchen Forum. Or is it possible to just replace the doors and paint them? I guess the price of the home will determine how much people are willing to overlook. But they will probably deduct more than 8K when figuring in a kitchen redo.

10 yrs old and the kitchen sounds like a total disaster. It would make me wonder as a buyer why it was in that condition. Did they just do a bunch of cosmetic changes in the rest of the house to cover up other blunders and I'm going to find a bunch of hidden problems if I buy this house.
I think I'd at least make the effort to fix the most glaring of problems. A bad looking range hood and can be removed cleaned, repainted and replace for very little cost wise. Broken doors need to either replaced or removed depending exactly where in the kitchen they are.
Warp anything says to a buyer there's been a on going water problem. I'd be incline to fix it. Kitchens are big money items to buyers. Many will not buy a house with a kitchen that needs a major overhaul unless you are selling the house at a extremely reasonable price. It's not just the cost it's the disruption of a lifestyle on top of a move that they don't like.

I'd fix the most glaring problems to a standard equal to what comps offer. You may have to get out and LOOK at the competition to decide how much is 'enough'.

I wouldn't spend much, and I wouldn't expect to recoup the costs. This will just help move the property faster.

Where are the owners moving? Would the house sell faster if they were already out? (Would be less disruptive to do the kitchen repairs and scrub everything to a shine.)

Thank you all; so far the consensus has been to overhaul the entire kitchen because if we only reface, there would be too many lingering questions that will make it difficult for them to sell.

The major source of the problem is deferred maintenance. The owners will move in with us, and we may put up the others as well for a bit. We're going to have our cleaning lady do some work over there, but there's only so much I think she will be able to do.

Professional cleaning services can make a big difference. More than anything else people have a very hard time getting past dirty and smelly homes.

Would it be possible to replace the bad cabinet doors? If you can't get ones that match, you could get some in the same wood but with glass for an open look. Doors can often be moved around so that the cabinets with the glass doors are in the correct place.

Doing that, painting/replacing the range hood, and replacing the countertop would probably be well worth it. An up to date laminate counter would be much better then a warped countertop.

In a difficult market, the home will probably sell much faster if you are able to put the money into fixing it up as others have outlined above. The kitchen is THE most important room in the house, bar none. You do not want to have a substandard kitchen compared to the competition.

As my realtor told us, a buyer's eye goes straight to the cheapest point in a room, and prices the rest accordingly.

I think the answer is highly dependent on the price point of the house and how its condition compares to other houses.

Assuming it is a lower to middle of the road kitchen, I would do new doors and hardware, new formica counters and vinyl floors. Assuming the rangehood is just a normal painted one, it should be pretty cheap.

How did this kitchen get so trashed in 10 years? Did they have water issues? My father just tore out a 40 yo kitchen that was in better shape.

I also would fix up the kitchen. If it is as bad as you say after only 10 years my mind would start to think what else is in such bad repair that we would have to fix. I would start being super critical of everything else looking at the home and start knocking off money on the price of the house. Check out what surrounding homes for sale are like and go from there. But do fix it up. You already said you do not expect to get your investment back. It may help for a faster sale of the house if the potential buyers were not looking at a major kitchen redo. NancyLouise

"2 cabinet doors broke and need replacing;"

You should be able to get two new doors, even if they have to be custom built, for about $100, and if you can turn a screwdriver you can install them yourself.

"the range hood is a terrible eyesore"

I bought a new one from home depot for about $25 and replaced it myself for free.

"the laminate is warped below the base cabinets, on the countertop, the backsplash and along the sink."

Ok, now we're into a real issue. This indicates that there is a water problem - has that been fixed? If not it will probably have to be just to be able to sell the house. Also, with that much water damage, I would be surprised if the entire base cabinets don't have to be replaced once you take up the countertop. Still, there are cheaper alternatives - you can get new cabinets, make your own countertops from ceramic tile for about $1.00/square foot, and you can take up the floor and replace it with the cheap self-adhesive linoleum tiles for about $1.00/square foot as well. I didn't replace my cabinets (but I did some minor repairs on them), but I did replace my countertops and kitchen floor and I didn't have to spend anywhere near the money you're talking. It was a lot of work, but from the sounds of it, that beats spending a lot of money.

Sorry I couldn't come back here sooner, but I am very grateful for all the advice! Cabinets were delivered yesterday, and our contractor will get started soon.

How easy for someone who's not handy *AT ALL* to replace laminate floors (kitchen, hallway, 1/2 bath)?

Yes, the cabinets have some water damage from the habit of letting pots and pans soak on the countertop because the sink is overflowing, and their kids (grown) don't bother emptying the dishwasher. What we've observed is that they take things out of the dishwasher as needed.

We are pleading with the owners to not let that happen with the new cabinets and countertop. The brand new stove we put in recently is already dingy and greasy. I am scared sh!tless of the same thing happening with the new stove and fridge that we have to get. They say they are killing themselves working, cooking and cleaning the house, but they get no help and can't keep up.

That's why DH and I stepped in to get this house in saleable shape so they can get out from under this burden. Thanks for letting me vent.

I had thought these people were your parents. You mentioned them moving in with you after the house is sold. But now you mention that their grown children put wet pots on the counters. So I am confused!

If you are concerned with them taking care of the new kitchen, why not move them in with you now? Some houses sell better empty.

They are probably not going to change their habits, as they are not the ones putting in the money, you are. Therefore, if they are to remain there until the house is sold, try to do somethings to protect your investment. A simple drainboard type mat on the counter where they rest the pots will help protect the counter. Consider hiring a cleaning person to come in once a week.

whose house is this--yours, or theirs?

if it's theirs, maybe you should stop feeling such a sense of responsibility. People get what they deserve, and if it means a lower selling price, etc., well, then, that's what they get

I would have the cabinets re-surfaced or re-"clad" and put in a laminate counter top that "looks" like granite. Both would have a nice appearance with lesser cost.

If these people are moving in with you, you'd better lay down some ground rules now, or else they're going to trash your house too.

If they can't keep up with the normal stuff of life--making dinner and washing dishes--then maybe they have other problems besides having to sell the house.

Why is all this your problem and not their kids'?

It sounds like these people are mid 50's etc, with grown children who should assume some responsibility. Personality I would not let them live with me, because the house (yours) could go down hill also. It is YOUR house not theirs, but they will not see it that way. If these people are Aunts/Uncles/Sister/Brother, it would be cheaper to move them into low income houseing, apts etc and encourage them to keep the places clean. It is called tough love. Also have a family discusion, adults and grown children and prepare the information ahead of time--lists of where, when, who, how etc.
Good luck

Well it sounds like you have acted already so my FWIW of replace the formica, the doors and range hood, clean and drop the price accordingly is no longer necessary. I agreed with Sue, and in this market I think price is very important. Its hard to know what to do, I do wish you good luck.
Mary
P.S. I had always had the preformed formica that has the built in backsplash. My last home had the sheets glued on. The contractor put a seam right between the sink and dishwasher - where you tend to stand and work, where rinshed dishes drip as you move them into the dishwasher etc. I complained but he wouldn't change it. Of course I had a full coffee pot break in that area at some point and the water caused the seam to bulge, Never had that problem before but I felt like I was constantly babying that and the other seams. Is that what you meant by the warped laminate?