One of the biggest frustrations of selling a home is the many improvements that must be made to make the house more appealing to potential buyers.
The good news is that these renovations really can make a significant difference, and one of the improvements that brings the greatest return on your investment is installing granite countertops.
Granite countertops are a feature that agents always highlight when selling a home. Stone countertops are more attractive, more durable, and give an air of sophistication and polish to any kitchen. Many kitchens that seemed unimpressive or even “cheap” looking became highly desirable merely by switching out the laminate countertops for granite ones.
How Granite Countertops Add Value
When you price out new granite countertops on a home you plan to sell, you’re naturally hoping that this improvement will make your house more appealing to buyers – and it most certainly will.
That said, how much value can you actually expect to add to your home with granite countertops? This is hard to estimate, of course, because it depends greatly on the home. Here are a few factors to consider:
Is your house on the borderline between price brackets?
When your home is on the upper end of the price scale, granite countertops are expected. If your home is comfortably in the mid-range, however, the addition of granite countertops can make an enormous difference in whether your house is perceived as a “fixer-upper” or “ready-to-move-in.”
Are granite countertops a deal-breaker in your house market?
A surprising number of buyers are perfectly willing to live with linoleum floors, for example, but they can’t stand laminate countertops – and will immediately reject any home that doesn’t have them. Stone countertops aren’t the only deal-breaker around, of course, but they are rapidly becoming as essential as hardwood floors once were, and many buyers may reject your home if you can’t offer them at least a few of their “must-haves.”
Majority of the homes in St.Louis area (middle to upper priced homes) that are listed for sale had granite countertops installed for a quick and profitable sale.
How bad is the quality of your current countertops?
Cabinets that show some wear can be perceived as charming or quaint, but chipped, torn, or damaged countertops are never well-received. If you’re going to have to replace the countertops anyway, it’s far better to go for a highly-desirable, durable replacement – and if you were considering not replacing damaged countertops at all, we’d strongly recommend against it.
Buyers will notice – and it will color their opinion of the house overall.
Granite countertops are often the difference between a lovely kitchen and a mediocre one, and the kitchen is one of the rooms buyers will look at with the most critical eye. Granite countertops more than pay for themselves by ensuring that buyers think favorably of what you have to offer.
What Buyers Want
One of the reasons buyers don’t want to consider homes without granite countertops is that they don’t want to invest the time or money to make that renovation themselves – partially because granite countertops are perceived as an extremely expensive and time-consuming investment.
That’s no longer the case – there are plenty of cost-effective options that look absolutely beautiful, and if you choose wisely, you can create a million-dollar look for an affordable price tag.
What Buyers like
Since you want the property to appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers, you should keep some things in mind when selecting granite for your countertops. Here are some tips to consider:
Make sure it’s real granite
Homebuyers will ensure the countertops are real granite and not granite imitations. Do not consider Quartz surfaces (also known as engineered stones, brand names like Silestone and Caesarstone), since most potential buyers want real granite countertops.
Neutral and Earth tone Granite colors work best
Avoid choosing a highly personalized color. That way, a large cross section of buyers will be able to envision themselves living there. The vast majority of home buyers prefer neutral or earth tone granite colors in their granite countertops, and since you know this won’t be your home very much longer, it’s better to invest in the countertops the buyer wants than the countertops you personally like best.
Venetian Gold, Giallo Ornamental or Indian Coffee Brown are among the great neutral options that will complement many design schemes, and they’re cost-effective for a homeowner performing a remodel.
There are many “statement” granites that you might find very appealing – and indeed, they might look absolutely wonderful – but if they don’t mesh with the buyer’s personal style or their vision of what the kitchen will look like when they move in, you might lose the sale. Stick to more neutral choices, and you’ll appeal to a larger percentage of buyers.
Make sure you also read: 5 tips for selecting the best granite color for your kitchen.
Consider the size of the room
If the kitchen is relatively small and lacks natural light, consider using a countertop that’s lighter in color. Darker colors are better for larger, light-filled kitchens.
Coordinate with cabinets
Countertops should coordinate with the cabinetry, but not match exactly. Making the counters the same color as the cabinets could make the kitchen’s color scheme too dark or monotone. Instead of matching the color exactly, match a vein in the granite with the cabinet color.
Decide on finish
Granite comes in three finishes: polished, honed and brushed. Most homeowners prefer polished granite countertops for interior kitchens, so you should go this route if you want to meet the expectations of the most people. Brushed finishes are rough and usually reserved for outdoor kitchens.
Turnaround time for Granite Install
Time is of the essence, too. The sooner you can show your new countertops to potential buyers, the sooner you can impress one of them into making you an offer. Granite companies with modern stone fabrication technology like CNC machines can install high-quality countertops quickly, making stone countertops not only one of the most cost-effective renovations, but also one of the speediest.
Need Help?
We know making these choices can be daunting, and Arch City Granite in St. Louis is here to help. If you need someone who will give you an honest assessment of whether granite countertops are a worthwhile investment in your home for sale, give us a call.
We can explain what options are available, what kind of turnaround time you can expect, and give you our opinion of what would make your house look most appealing for your upcoming buyers – without breaking your budget. Contact us today, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.