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If you’re getting ready to sell your house, chances are you’re looking around for ways to improve its value. Cleaning up your front yard, repainting some rooms, and making minor repairs can all help you to make more money on your home sale. And you may find yourself eyeing your kitchen counters wondering if they’re worth an upgrade, too.
Granite countertops can be a beautiful addition to a home, but should you install them before you sell? Read on to learn more about the benefits of granite and if it’s the right choice for your home.
Benefits of Improving Your Home Before Listing
Before we dive into the question of whether you should install granite countertops before you list your home, let’s talk about why you should make changes to your home in the first place. In general, before you sell a home, it’s a good idea to make some cosmetic improvements. Not only can this increase home value, but it can also reduce the time your house spends on the market.
When buyers walk into your home, they want to see a move-in-ready space that they can imagine themselves living in. Upgraded finishes and neutral paint colors make it easier for potential buyers to see that gorgeous vision. Yes, it’s a little more work on your part, but it can turn into a huge return on your investment.
Importance of the Kitchen
When you’re planning home improvements before you sell your house, there are two rooms you should focus on: the kitchen and the bathrooms. These two rooms are what will make the most difference in how buyers perceive the house. Even small improvements in these two areas can turn huge dividends in your final sale.
In many ways, the kitchen is the heart of the home; it’s where families gather, eat, do homework, and chat about their days. Buyers want to be able to see themselves cooking delicious meals to feed their families and their kids doing homework at the kitchen table. They also don’t want to have to contend with limited counter space, dated kitchens, or worn-out appliances.
Benefits of Granite Countertops
So if you are going to redo your kitchen before you sell, why should you go for granite countertops? Granite demand hit its peak a couple of decades ago when new mining techniques made the stone more accessible for everyday working families. This countertop material has always maintained a reputation as a luxury finish homeowners can be proud to show off.
In addition to its stellar reputation, granite is also incredibly durable, especially when cared for properly. It doesn’t etch as easily as marble, and it’s incredibly resistant to heat and scratches. While it offers the look and feel of a luxury kitchen, it can stand up to the demands of an everyday working home.
Installation Costs
Of course, the big question when it comes to whether you should install granite countertops is how much this upgrade will cost you. You need to be sure you’ll be able to recoup your investment, and hopefully a little bit more when it comes time to sell the house. Installation costs can also determine whether granite countertops are a realistic option for your budget.
In general, you can expect to pay somewhere between $2,000 and $4,500 for your granite countertops, with the national average sitting around $3,250.
The specific material you choose will have a big impact on the price; slabs can range from $40 to $60 per square foot. Then, of course, the size of your kitchen and the amount of time the installation takes can also change your installation costs.
Home Value Increase
Once you know how much your countertop is going to cost, you need to start looking at how much of that investment you can plan to recoup. In general, you shouldn’t plan to make back your entire investment on countertop replacements, especially if this is the only upgrade you make. Granite counters should be part of a larger effort to make your home feel more luxurious.
Some experts estimate that you could make back as much as 25 percent of your countertop installation costs when it comes time to sell your home. However, compounded with other upgrades, granite can make your home feel much more luxurious. And that’s saying nothing of the years you’ll get to enjoy those counters yourself before you sell.
Other Considerations
In addition to the financial aspect, you’ll need to consider a few other factors before deciding if granite is right for you. For one thing, take a look at the rest of your house and decide if granite counters are going to fit there. In homes under a certain property value, granite countertops can seem out of place and unnecessary.
Homes in nicer neighborhoods may benefit more from installing granite countertops. If everyone else on your street has granite and you don’t, buyers may start to wonder why they should buy your house. Installing granite can help to bring your house up to the level of the comps around you and may even raise it into the next tier of property values.
Decide If Granite Countertops Are Right for You
Granite countertops can be a beautiful and durable addition to your kitchen. However, they are an investment, and if you’re getting ready to sell, you need to decide if that money is worth it. If granite counters are the last thing standing between you and a home that sells for luxury prices, go for it; if not, consider some more affordable upgrades.
Want to learn more about granite countertops? Check out the rest of our site at Dean Miller Real Estate. We make Long Island real estate easy no matter whether you’re buying or selling. Start the selling process today and discover how we can help you achieve your home ownership goals, no matter what they may be.
