First things first: refinishing hardwood floors

First order of business for the house will be to refinish the hardwoods. (Unless there's painting left to do...)

It's the original floor and it's in sound shape, it just hasn't been handled with care in the house's 70+ year lifespan. I plan to give it love and make it shiny and happy again.

Ah but decisions, decisions and more pro/con lists. Oil or water based? To stain or not to stain? Argh!

DIY advice is not created equal-links I found helpful (in completely random order):

• cost helper: advice on estimating project cost
  
• extreme how-to: thorough how-to, includes floor repair
• directoryM.com: detailed prep and repair info
• NOFMA Finishing Hardwood Floors: (opens pdf) A. Whole. Lotta. Information.
  
• Popular Mechanics: prep advice and info re:water based finishes
• Ask Anthony @ cafemom.com: Anthony Gilardi from HGTV gives gentle first time advice, references this hometime.com how-to
• This Old House: refinishing school- a wealth of information TOH style
  
• This Old House: Tom Silva's advice on applying basecoat + waterbased polyurethane to a sanded hardwood floors (how-to video on the page)
  
• easy2diy.com's Refinishing floors with a drum sander: basic how-to video
  
• easy2diy.com's Refinishing floors with an oscillating sander: basic how-to video
• Associated Content: 5 minute how-to video (sans dust walls...)
  

And Northside Tool Rental seems to be THE place if'n you're in Atlanta.