Selling house: Are Granite Countertops important?

Question

Would you buy a house with laminate countertops? Or is granite required? If not granite, what material would be your top choice?

Answer 1

I think granite is overrated.  Especially if it is dark and mottled, because you can't see the food stains on the countertop.  Tile isn't the best idea, because debris gets in the cracks.  Unless your counters are so unsightly that they need replacing, I would leave well enough alone.  Most people that buy homes end up remodeling, no matter what you do.  Save yourself the time and trouble.  Put the money you save into the bank to help with the down payment when your current home sells.  Good luck!

Answer 2

It depends on you unique market.  In some markets they would be a nice bonus, in some they are expected and in the top end they would be a disapointment.  Top end I would expect something innovative and green (concrete/glass/recycled glass) or onyx - and not one but two types of surfaces in the kitchen (in addition to marble at the baking station).

Laminate would be a disapointment in all places at all times.  If you are considering selling and currently have laminate, consider granite tile (if this suits your market) - it is much more price effective than solid granite and gives a similar look.

Answer 3

These days, houses are overpriced and most people would prefer to pay less. Unless your counters are worn out or really dated looking or ugly, I'd just leave them in.

If you must get new countertops and your home is in a low-end or mid-range neighborhood, get a nice, clean laminate that enhances the kitchen (that goes with it!). (If your kitchen is really retro, just keep to that look.)

If you're in a high-cost area, maybe go with what's trendy (that goes with your kitchen). I personally hate the darkness of granite. Maybe a creamy or green marble? Fine wood? Some kind of techno-glass blend?

But realize you're doing this to get rid of bad counters, not to jack up your house price.

Answer 4

Granite is such a good feature in any home, buyers love it.

But I'm pretty sure people will purchase a home with laminate countertops ( my family did).

But if I had to choose my top material would be granite, I like it.

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Answer 6

I would not buy a house with laminate countertops. But granite is not required.

If it was green and environmentally friendly countertop; something different than granite but granite is eye-catching to buyers but some buyers wants something a little different from the norm.

Answer 7

Granite tops are a nice selling point, but if you are planning to sell soon, it doesn't make sense to install $10K worth of tops to raise the price $5K.  Most buyers of existing homes realize that they are going to have to make changes.  You could actually shoot yourself in the foot by installing tops you like but buyers don't.  Good luck.

Answer 8

We just had a realtor come and price our home this past week.  I asked her this same question.  She said granite counter tops have been around for awhile, and they don't have the "wow" factor they did at the beginning. People do understand the upgraded counter top concept, so they want something besides laminate.  She specifically said not to put in laminate.  Personally, I think new laminate would be an improvement over the laminate we have now, but we are going to just fix the broken kitchen floor tiles, and let it go at that.  

I looked at Home Depot today myself, and if I was going to put in new countertops, I would put in quartz.  I like it better from a maintainance standpoint, and also it seems "cleaner" to me in terms of being porous and resistant to bacteria (but that's just me).  I like how the design is a little more subtle than granite.  The granite is pretty, but I think sometimes the pattern in the stone is large and overpowering.  It would always be the focal point of the kitchen.