Question for realtors: Is granite a must these days??

[pjrb]

We're probably relocating and selling our mid-size (and mid-priced) Roxborough twin in the next year. Our kitchen space is great --relatively big and open to sliding doors, our deck and pretty trees. The white cabinets are nice, but the countertops, including a big island, (and backsplash!) are this cheap, gray-fake-marble laminate.

Should I spend 3K on granite to vastly improve the kitchen -- or is it better to keep the house as cheap as possible in this market (we picked this house 6 years ago b/c it needed a little work and we knew there was greater potential in equity increase with various improvements)?

(and if you think the granite is a good idea, recommendations? -- thanks)

Thanks

[lastmonthsrent]

If the cabinest are really nice as you say a more affordable option is quartz and can look just as good.
Have you looked at what similiar homes are selling for to see where you stand and what the kitchens are looking like?

[the mule]

If the cabinest are really nice as you say a more affordable option is quartz and can look just as good.
Have you looked at what similiar homes are selling for to see where you stand and what the kitchens are looking like?

Quartz is generally more expensive than granite, but if you have someone who can do it cheaper I'd love to know who. I prefer it over granite and would like to put it in houses but I always end up going with granite just based on price.

[thesomersteam]

In this market, there is the risk that you do not get your money back for those types of upgrades. If so, perhaps dollar for dollar at best. Instead of doing the cash outlay, I would have a more aggressive listing price for an oudated kitchen and focus on other parts of the house, having it be as meticulous and clutter free as possible, super bright and fantastic curb appeal for the summer. Buyers love both granite and quartz, and in this way, they can choose themselves which one they will updgrade too after they own it instead of you choosing for them and saving money at the same time.

[pjrb]

In this market, there is the risk that you do not get your money back for those types of upgrades. If so, perhaps dollar for dollar at best. Instead of doing the cash outlay, I would have a more aggressive listing price for an oudated kitchen and focus on other parts of the house, having it be as meticulous and clutter free as possible, super bright and fantastic curb appeal for the summer. Buyers love both granite and quartz, and in this way, they can choose themselves which one they will updgrade too after they own it instead of you choosing for them and saving money at the same time.

That makes sense. A few months ago, we had a realtor that we're thinking of using come through to see what we should be doing now and what she thought we could get for the house -- cleaned, decluttered, staged-as-it-can-be-with-two-kids -- and she also did not feel strongly on the counters, unless we wanted to do it for ourselves for the time we're left in the house (just not solely for equity).

[Brooke]

There are cheaper options for sure than granite and it really depends on whether you'd get your money back. If your counters are horrible, you could do something tasteful--even tile--if it looks nice. The thing to keep in mind while making upgrades is keeping all of your house on the same scale. If you have an amazing rest of your house where a buyer would expect to see a higher end counter in the kitchen, a buyer may decide the kitchen overall is substandard and budget in a whole remodel (because many buyers have no imagination). But putting in granite itself will not sell a house. (I see people try and put lipstick on a pig all the time this way in Philly.)

Really, if your agent has a good sense of design and she knows the market well, it might be best to trust her because these types of things are best judged in person. The counters may be horrible to you because you live with them daily--there have been many times I've gone into clients' houses and told them the "flaw" they hated about their house was absolutely fine and buyers actually liked it. Sometimes we are our own (house's) worst critics.