Wwyd? Single mom, kitchen dire

[Anonymous]

Plumber ASAP, leak is urgent. Get it fixed before you have a mold issue.

Appliances are actually the least expensive part of redoing a kitchen. Sometimes there are sales if you buy a suite of the same appliances (GE Profile refrigerator/oven/dishwasher for example). Start with a discount place like Appliance Land, and compare with big box stores (Costco/Lowes/Home Depot). Go to your local library even online, and look at Consumer Reports first (so you don't buy dud appliances)

Reconfiguring is big bucks, as are cabinets. Are yours salvagable if you put new hardware on?

After fixing the leak and getting new appliances, if hardware will solve the cabiniet problem, I would redo the floor.

[Anonymous]

Get a handyman. Have him help you with the leak, fix the door fronts / replace the handles.

Then yes, replace the appliances one by one.

Peel and stick tiles.

DIY paint the cabinets after you re-affix the faces.

With that level of retirement savings, you really don't have the money to pull out the kitchen and replace it. Nor do you need to, really. Just replace things one by one. If, someday, you marry a rich man, or your parents leave you millions, then you have new kitchen money. But, honestly, at that point you'll probably get a whole new house.

[Anonymous]

I’d price out what a cheap pull and replace would cost from a few places - HD/Lowes and then some basic kitchen places. You could also look at Cabinets to Go or something like that. I’d also ask about low-interest payment plans. Getting individual appliances delivered is going to be expensive for delivery fees and you’re just putting lipstick on a pig if there are water leaks and potential mold. Assuming you’ll be in the house 5+ years I would bite the bullet and spend the money but not do anything fancy.

[Anonymous]

Op here- thanks all.

Im 10 years into a 30 year mortgage @ 2.75% so not going anywhere. My mortgage on my 3000sqft house is cheaper than rent for a 1 bd condo right now. Im in a great school district too.

[Anonymous]

Re dish washer - maybe fill a plastic tub with water & let dishes sit there for an hour plus before putting in dw.

[Anonymous]

I would start following all the Restores (Habitat for Humanity resale stores) on FB from here to Charlottesville. New builders will donate new cabinets and appliances all the time. You just have to be ready to jump on them.
I got a brand new bathroom vanity for a fraction of the cost in a box store.
Also follow FB marketplace as people will buy houses with new appliances and want to remodel and will sell them at a deep discount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here- thanks all.

Im 10 years into a 30 year mortgage @ 2.75% so not going anywhere. My mortgage on my 3000sqft house is cheaper than rent for a 1 bd condo right now. Im in a great school district too.

How much is your house worth? 3000 sq ft is a pretty good size house, and in a great school district you should have some value there that you could take a HELOC on.

Otherwise, just replace the dangerous oven and then other appliances as they fail. Then wait until you have enough to redo cabinets and flooring. Meanwhile, enjoy all the space you have!

[Anonymous]

Chill. These are ordinary problems. Fix a leak, get a few new appliances, replace some knobs with sexy new ones and you're good to go. Put some vinyl plank flooring down when you get around to it.

Someone said peel and stick tiles. DO NOT. Vinyl plank flooring looks way better and is more durable and (if installed properly) watertight.

[Anonymous]

Replace the appliances. Fix the cabinets and replace the flooring with other vinyl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 1952 original! I feel you. The cabinets and floor are just cosmetic and annoying, so don’t invest your resources there. You can absolutely DIY those to make it nicer, though - you can replace the knobs, and the peel and stick vinyl flooring can spruce the place up for a year or two.

You clearly need a new oven - that doesn’t sound safe. A new fridge would be next, if it isn’t keeping food cold. Then the dishwasher.

My place has the original cabinets, with flooring put in sometime in the ‘80’s, I believe. We’ve replaced the appliances at least once for each over the 25 years we’ve lived here. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Bray and Scarf has a seconds warehouse where you can get a pretty good deal on appliances, and they are much better than a box box store about installation and hauling away the old one.

Good luck!

Agree with this poster.

Pay as you go.

Fix leak first.
Replace oven next.
Replace frig next.
Then replace dishwasher.

Sometimes you can get a good deal and 0% financing with buying a package of appliances.

I agree with a PP who said do an IKEA Pull and replace.

Maybe a runner or mat in the kitchen over the worst part of the cracks? Or lay some LVP over it?

[Anonymous]

Don't finance the appliances or do a HELOC. Jeez people. Use money you already have in the bank or your brokerage account. You're only looking at like 6 grand. 3 appliances, minor plumbing work, and a little floor covering.

To those who are saying that's not enough, it most certainly is. I literally just did this same thing on our MIL apartment.

[Anonymous]

Good advice here. I agree with the bulk of others. you don't have a ton of savings, so piecemeal and making do is likely your best bet. (and I'm right there with you).

I'd definitely fix leak and get whatever done under the sink that needs to be done.

I'd think about going to Lowe's or some big store and checking out oven, dishwasher, and fridge at same time. You might be able to get a store card that lets you pay off the appliances over a specific time period with no interest. We got a fridge and stove that way - 3 years of steady payments and no interest. but you have to know yourself and be disciplined about paying and not missing a payment. I'd even do this ahead of paying in cash. THat way you can pay a little off at a time, while also building up savings for other things.

[Anonymous]

Sheet vinyl floors are very cheap

[Anonymous]

Have you tested your floor? Is it asbestos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 1952 original! I feel you. The cabinets and floor are just cosmetic and annoying, so don’t invest your resources there. You can absolutely DIY those to make it nicer, though - you can replace the knobs, and the peel and stick vinyl flooring can spruce the place up for a year or two.

You clearly need a new oven - that doesn’t sound safe. A new fridge would be next, if it isn’t keeping food cold. Then the dishwasher.

My place has the original cabinets, with flooring put in sometime in the ‘80’s, I believe. We’ve replaced the appliances at least once for each over the 25 years we’ve lived here. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Bray and Scarf has a seconds warehouse where you can get a pretty good deal on appliances, and they are much better than a box box store about installation and hauling away the old one.

Good luck!

Agree with this poster.

Pay as you go.

Fix leak first.
Replace oven next.
Replace frig next.
Then replace dishwasher.

I’m also agreeing with this. Remember if you later have funds for a bigger kitchen overhaul, you can reuse the new appliances you bought. Safety first.