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Answers (10)

- Kim Melendez, "kmelendez"
- Contributions:238
IT MAKES THE HOUSE MORE APPEALING NOT NECESSARILY MORE VALUABLE.

- Andrew Mooers, "Mooersrealty"
- Contributions:102
I have seen homes that as you enter the kitchen with a real estate buyer, there are ooohs and ahhhhs. But if all the effort, razzle dazzle is in one or two spots, it is like luck. You want it spread around your life, in more than one nook and cranny. The entire home, property listing needs to be in balance, harmony and on the same page. "Pick up", enhance all the property to the same degree, like jacking up a home a little here, little there to get it level, back in its prime. Not just jacking for all you are worth in one area that breaks, cracks, destroys the structure.

- Carla Giordano, "Carla Giordano"
- Contributions:4
Anything to make your home desireable to potential buyers in this market when there is so much competition is a bonus. Kitchen renovations tend to be pricey but well worth it. Most buyers that I have dealt with, especially first timers, do not want to deal with the inconvenience. They also are unaware of what the cost would be, so when they write an offer, it tends to be much lower to compensate for a guestimate of what granite might run.

- Lucy Armentrout, "Lucy Armentrout"
- Contributions:71
Keep in mind that today's "must have" granite counter is tomorrow's shag carpet. If you're selling now, I'd say granite is a great option if you're replacing something old, scarred or unattractive. One option, though, is to save the cost of counter replacement and put your house on the market to sell as-is WITH new countertops of the buyer's choice thrown in. The buyer will love choosing what they prefer and you won't run the risk of making a costly improvement that doesn't pay off. And if you're not selling your home anytime soon, either leave the house as-is or choose a countertop you love. Worry about resale value when the time comes to sell. There may be some new countertop trend in effect by that time!

- Derek Zasaretti, "Derek_Zasaretti"
- Contributions:343
Kitchens and Bath updates appeal to a wider audience of buyers. The countertops would probably help your house sell before a comparable without them. It's like car shopping, 1 car has a sunroof and the other doesn't. You wouldn't want to pay $3000 extra for it.

- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
I should have added;... But I guess that depends on what you replaced. If they were in extremely bad condition, the old counters may have subtracted as much as $20k for what you could have sold the house for, or even kept in on the market for extended periods of time. In which case, you may not have "added" value, but you may have kept the old counters from "subtracting" value.
By the way, I'm not at all fond of the polyurethane with solvents used to seal the counters. I'm fine with polyurethane on deck floors, and some cabinet work; I just don't want it on my counters.
Nor do I want any of that radioactive granite that so many people were selling and installing.
By the way, I'm not at all fond of the polyurethane with solvents used to seal the counters. I'm fine with polyurethane on deck floors, and some cabinet work; I just don't want it on my counters.
Nor do I want any of that radioactive granite that so many people were selling and installing.

- SoCal_Engr
- Contributions:5663
The infamous "maybe".
By "value" I am assuming you are talking increasing the eventual sale price of the house.
As with any other improvements or upgrades, it is rare to get a dollar-for-dollar return. Exactly how much return you will realize is based on the type of improvement/upgrade, as well as the general pricing in your locale.
Adding square footage is more likely to add to the eventual sale price. Upgrading finishes may make a house easier to move, but it may not affect the sale price as much. At some point, the local market is going to set caps on actual sale prices.
By "value" I am assuming you are talking increasing the eventual sale price of the house.
As with any other improvements or upgrades, it is rare to get a dollar-for-dollar return. Exactly how much return you will realize is based on the type of improvement/upgrade, as well as the general pricing in your locale.
Adding square footage is more likely to add to the eventual sale price. Upgrading finishes may make a house easier to move, but it may not affect the sale price as much. At some point, the local market is going to set caps on actual sale prices.

- Geoffrey Lavell, "ShortSaleExpertLV"
- Contributions:218
Typically adding them adds value, but not typically dollar-for-dollar. Updating kitchens and bathrooms are the best places to recover/increase value and create an emotional response from would-be buyers.

- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
Not if I'm buying.... I'd insist they be ripped out and replaced.

- Thomas Richard, "TRS Designs"
- Contributions:64
Yes!

Granite Countertops add value?
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