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I am going to be living in this home for another 6 years and then sell. At this time the house has lost about 1/4 of original value. The wife and I are separated and before she left, she sanded the original finish off the cabinets to prep for paint. There are a total of 15 individual cabinets + doors + ends.
Myself I prefer the natural oak look. I had 2 different guys look at this small kitchen and both quoted about $900 to refinish.
My question is, if I painted instead and did a meticulous job of it, will that make the kitchen any less desirable when I sell?
Am I better of dropping the 900 to have them refinished? Note: these cabinets were never top of the line in the first place. Thanks...gary

Oak is not the easiest wood to get a good, smooth paint finish on. The grain is too deep, and wood filler might be needed to fill the grain.
Since you like the natural wood better than painting, why not just use a varnish over the sanded wood? A pro paint store can help you do the right steps yourself, and it should be easier than priming/painting. Take a door off of a cabinet and ask them for specific advice?

I really have no experience at the refinishing thing. Can an amateur do something like that without messing things up?
I don't want to do it if there is a chance they will look bad when I am done.
thanks..gary

Take some photos of your cabinets and a cabinet door into a Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore paint store. Honestly we do not know what you are dealing with, but if all your ex did was a light sanding in prep for paint, you may be lucky to just be able to do a clear finish and bring the cabinets back to original condition. Not a big job, if done in steps with good advice and product.