Installing laminate is pretty easy. Replace the old countertop with some high density fiber board (HDF), lay down some contact cement on the HDF and on the laminate to be installed. DON'T SKIMP ON THE CEMENT, USE ENOUGH! Take some 1" wide strips of 1/4 inch plywood and lay them down on the HDF after it is tacky. Lay down the laminate, the start removing the strip from the center (preferred by me) and work your way out to both sides, or start on one end and work towards the other. Roll vigorously with a J-roller. Trim with a router/roto-zip with a laminate bit and add an appropriate wood trim bullnose. Avrage kitchen should take 4 hours or less if you are handy. 2 hours or less including demo if you are good.

You selling a $500,000 house, or a $150-200,000 house? It matters. Towards the lower end, go laminate. Middle to upper end, go corian.

I always buy the tool needed to do the job, because the guy I would have to hire to install it would have "the tool". That way I can do the same job later for a friend, or god forbid, do it for myself on another project...