My husband is in the service trades and I would definitely vote for calling and asking if they could go ahead and hook up the washer. Offering to pay for just that part would be great. They really do understand about the estate problem. It's a huge amount of money to you and a nice amount to them but it's probably not their biggest outstanding bill by a long shot.

Sending good wishes about the bunny dilemma. Glad the cat is doing better.