Here's the size, for reference.

Refinishing oak cabinets is not a good DIY project -- you really want them done right, and that involves many rounds of careful sanding and preparation, as well as painting with a sprayer and good cabinet laquor. That's the only way to keep all the grain from showing and the paint from rubbing off over time.

Granite is also not a great DIY project -- you need it templated to your particular layout and wall imperfections, etc. Nobody is cutting their own stone. Sorry. There is such a thing as precut counters, but they don't go around a corner...

Can't really see enough of your kitchen to estimate well, but assume a few thousand for a good painter, $900-2000 for counters, tile could be as cheap as a couple hundred or several times that, depending on what you pick, but you can probably do your own tile with a little research and care...

Does the kitchen NEED a reno or would you want one? That's another consideration to keep in mind. Sometimes, we can live with a not-our-style-but-very-usable kitchen for a few years while we save the money for the reno. This gives us time to tweak the layout, if need be.

Here's a [Kitchen workbook[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/homeowners-workbook-how-to-remodel-your-kitchen-stsetivw-vs~1198907) that might help you figure out the elements to research. Here's an [article[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/kitchen-remodel-costs-3-budgets-3-kitchens-stsetivw-vs~2091653) that outlines the elements in three budgets.

Your real estate agent can possibly give you a ballpark figure for kitchen renos in your area. As acm noted, some DIY projects are iffier to undertake than others.

Kitchens are like cars ... you can buy basic economy or high end luxury. Your tile could be a few hundred dollar for ceramic tile at Home Depot to thousands of dollars for hand made tile from Pratt & Larson, Encore, etc.

Go to Home Depot and look at some of their pricing. Then go to a better plumbing/appliance supply store such as Fergusons, Pacific Sales, etc. and check the prices on better quality materials.

jib1221, great date by the way!!

Location and schools should be first priority when buying a home.

A kitchen can always be done. Even to DIY, it will be anywhere from 10K-50K.

Although the picture of the one you show is dated, it is functional and can be lived in for a year until you decide what you want to do. Rushing into a kitchen remodel only leads to disaster.

Planning, planning and yet more planning AND having all the decisions made before swinging the destruction hammer will save you tons of money, sweat and worry.

Here is what you need to review before you start any demo.....

Kitchen websites that are helpful

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~4306041[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~4306041)

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm#.Wq1aeWrwaM8

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638270/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638304/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638376/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov-dsvw-vd~4273188[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov-dsvw-vd~4273188)

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90)

The layout is pretty good, so I say don't sink your money into a kitchen reno first thing. You should live in any new home for a bit to figure out its strengths and weaknesses, and I'm not talking about dated or current decor. Location, good maintenance, a layout that lets in light from more than one side and has good flow are all more important.

There's no way anyone can give you estimates. It varies by region, access to materials, and local cost of your chosen materials.

Improvements people don't always consider, at first, may be lighting. Or, what's in that fur down/soffit? Do you need the dining area (that's being ignored in the staged photos) or can it be incorporated into the new layout? Why in the world is there a dropped ceiling in the family room? Why is the flooring so choppy? Wouldn't it look better if it continued throughout this level? That's all $$$, so think carefully about what you love and what you want to change.

I'm redoing a kitchen about that size and have been shocked by the costs. Refinishing can easily cost you nearly the same amount as low to mid-range new cabinets. Painting them would be easier. Granite for that space will cost you thousands. Try a faux granite Formica or Wilsonart surface to save money -- you would be surprised how much you could save on counters and still have something nice. All factors being the same I would choose the house with the kitchen I liked better rather than getting deep into an upgrade at a time when you are possibly already short on funds making a downpayment.

Thanks guys,

We were coconsidering cost because we were comparing two homes. We went with the other, so saved ourselves a reno!!