Opinions!! We are putting the house on the market soon and my realtor thinks we need to upgrade to granite. Only problem…

How much does your realtor think it will bring your price up if you replace it?

He said in today's market, every $1k spent would equal $1,500 in ROI.

I don't see anything wrong with your kitchen. You might make it less desirable. If they want something new, they should replace it. They might replace it after you do anyway.

Actually granite is cheaper nowadays. Quarts, soap stone, etc went up in price significantly.

I wouldn't replace them. What if they just replace what you just did?

I would rather pay a little less for the house and pay to replace them with something I choose. The flooring may be a cheaper update that you might want to consider.

Your kitchen is adorable. I'd leave it. I passed on so many houses because the kitchen was newly renovated in colors I hated. Give the buyer a chance to make it their own

I like aschlots' suggestion. Save yourself the cost of buying something so expensive for someone who may not like it.

Offer a cost assistance towards new counter....or cheat and buy the rustoleum counter kit makes it look like granite but super cheap that way they can put in what they want but it looks great and saves money it'll update the space a lot

I think granite is one of the biggest waste of money ? we've been looking for a house for awhile, and I steer clear of houses with granite... I feel like it's such a waste. And I honestly don't really think it looks better. You should put that money to something more useful.

I have granite counters and love them, however this is the first house I have ever lived in that had granite counters. I love them, but if I found a house I loved, counters wouldn't be a deal breaker. Plus, I love the way your kitchen looks

Omg I would cry if the new owners ripped brand new counter tops out?

If the possible owners don't say anything about the counter tops I wouldn't say anything but would give them leeway if they actually bought the house. Like knock it off the price of the house.

I don't love the counter tops you have now, but the rest of the kitchen is gorgeous!!!

This would NOT be a deal breaker for me at all, tho. If counter top was the only thing that needed replacing, I would be okay with that.

I wouldn't. Not everyone actually likes granite, as it does require some upkeep. I personally don't care for it, as it's beautiful but can be damaged by things like acidic cleaners/spills and hot pans, and I prefer to be able to be much more careless in my kitchen and not have to worry about cracking or staining a $4,000 counter! My SIL bought a home with new granite and hates it, especially after having to pay someone to cut it when they wanted to put in a new stove.

I honestly think your kitchen is awesome as-is. It's very similar to the layout of mine, and that easy to work in kitchen is about 75% of the reason we bought our home! If I did anything to it I'd update the laminate. You might consider offering something like a $2500 or $3000 incentive, where you pay the buyers the money at closing so they can renovate the kitchen however they see fit. We got a $1500 incentive for paint for our home and I certainly preferred that to making the previous owners paint it all back from the horrible colors it was to neutral white because I got to choose my own. As a buyer, I was willing to give them a bit more for the home than I originally wanted to negotiate in exchange for that extra cash up front to renovate. You might talk to your agent about that, or offer an either/or to your potential buyers.

I actually love the look. The counter tops and the floor! I wouldn't do the upgrade.

I would upgrade to something a bit more modern but not necessarily granite. My first thought before reading the post was "nice kitchen but outdated countertops" Formica is extremely dated

I say, if the next owners want granite, they can pay for it!

I agree with what ascholtz did, leave your kitchen the way it is now and offer a set amount of money to upgrade the countertops that way the buyer can pick it out themselves, I'd hate to spend $3,000+ on something and they hate it and rip it out anyways. Or you not get a high offer and in the end you wasted the money on the countertops.

I think the counters are fine, it's the floor that I don't like. It'd look better in a bigger tile with cooler tones.

I wouldn't replace it. Like some @pps said they may hate it and redo it themselves.

Thanks ladies! I know the floors are awful. I'm surprised he didn't say anything about those! The floors are tough though because I wanted to do wood throughout but the main floor of our home is HUGE so when we got the estimate to do the entire floor in hardwood, it was over $8K. We don't buy things unless we can pay cash so we decided we would do room by room as we could afford it. The foyer was already hardwood when we bought the house so we did the family room in hardwood to match. To do the kitchen in hardwood, it would cost another $3K (there is a large breakfast area behind me, not pictured). That's another huge expense. I'm not sure about tile though. We could lay it ourselves so we would only need to purchase the material.

What color tile would you suggest?

I love your kitchen xx

Granite is a plus, however it is BEAUTIFUL the way it is.

Where are you?

In Southern California you can go straight to a granite yard and buy/have someone install it for $300/ 10'foot length. See if you can go straight to the granite yard.

Your kitchen is beautiful btw

My mom got granite tops to help the house sell and they ripped them out too. If i were going to update anything i would do the floor and brighen up the room. But, definitely no to new counters.

I think granite would look good with appliances .Many people look for places and have granite as a touch that they want in the kitchen.I like the floors !

@asch - could you post a picture? I'm up for anything cheaper but everything I have researched says granite is one of the cheapest options for stone.

In our new home, I'm getting soap stone!! I LOVE it!

Oh!! Thanks! Haha!

We just had a new tile floor laid in our kitchen last week (going through a full Reno).. I can post a pic if you like?

I would buy it the way it is. Granite is pretty but not at all necessary

Yes please, Nikki!

I think you should leave them. If they bug the next people that much then they'll change it. My cousins replaced there's before they moved and the new people ended up reDoing the whole kitchen !! So it was a complete waste! Just keep them how they are, they still look nice anyway

Posted it for you :)

I personally like the counters you already have

I would definitely replace the countertops. A kitchen is probably the biggest selling point in a home and most people nowadays want a move in ready home without having to do a bunch of remodeling. Replacing the countertops to something more modern will easily add 10k to your home. It would make a huge different in your kitchen.

Do not replace your counters. What you like someone else might not. We have granite countertops and I *hate* the color that they chose.

I wouldn't replace the counters.

I would redo the floors tho.

I wouldn't suggest slat floors. From my experience slate breaks very easily.

I just did my kitchen counters in granite. I paid 1,300 for 50sq feet. It was picked measured and installed within 5 days it's perfect, your kitchen looks standard size and I think you should look around for more individual/handymen they will can do it cheaper.

What city/state are you in?

I'm coming back to say that if it were me buying it, I would be turned off at the granite. I just can't picture it for some reason. I like it just how it is.

I think the kitchen is beautiful, I could care less what kind of counter tops were there. If the new owner wants new ones then they can get new ones. No need to waste your money on something the new owner may not even care for

We bought a house recently, with granite countertops. I don't like them. Not enough to not buy the house or change it. I rather would've picked them my self.

No waste of money.. It's a beautiful kitchen. Nowadays ppl are so picky they will end up changing things themselves anyways. Put on the market for the price u want. Someone will buy it with a kitchen just like that. Invest in to your new home and move on.

Thanks ladies! I really appreciate it. Honestly, one of the things I am looking forward to in my next house is renovating and putting "our" stamp on it. It's just that we are also looking to move further out and downsize so I know that we will have to renovate probably anywhere we go. However, our current home is in a very affluent neighborhood and will sell for a pretty penny. People around here want turn key which is why I was considering it. But you're right, I think I'll just leave it as is and let the next owners do it.

I wouldn't. Not everyone actually likes granite and it looks so nice as is, I would honestly just leave it and let the new owners decide. I'm so picky with granite personally I only like a specific color haha, I wouldn't waste the time and money!

No that's an easy change for the buyers to do them selfs

I love it as is. Personally I'd rather choose the counters in a new house rather than have new ones already bc then I'd feel bad for changing them if that makes sense.

Id list it and see how the open house goes and get feedback from your realtor.

That way you know what is important to throw money at.

A lot of people are going with different countertops. Granite looks nice but also isnt for everyone. Keep it as it is. The bathrooms, now that is important. Those are the rooms that can sell a house so spend the money there if they are outdated and upgrade faucets, shower heads, and so on. We spend more time pooping and peeing than we do eating. :)

@PP, that's funny! We have updated the bathrooms partly. New faucets, shower heads, and flooring. We need new light fixtures or just replace the glass coverings - whatever those are called. We just re-caulked all of the bathrooms too and are going to paint 3 of the 4 this weekend.

Perhaps as part of the sale add an allowance for counter replacement. The one place that hubby and I had looked at had a flooring allowance as the tiles in the kitchen were all busted up(looked like they hadn't been installed properly) I like that idea and its recommended by several Realtors I know. People then don't think

1- we'll I'm spending all this money on a house and have to replace the " whatever" right away and

2- I can pick whatever I want. If it's over the budget that's on them to add to that.

As someone currently looking to buy, I don't think you should. Unless there is something wrong/outdated - which is not the case here it looks great.

I already plan on changing things out myself so we can pick things *our* tastes (not the sellers). As a pp said, i'd rather pay slightly less for the house with the freedom to upgrade at my choice and convenience.

I think this kitchen looks good. The countertops are in excellent condition. The cabinetry looks to be in excellent condition. If the housing market in your area is good, I don't think that the granite countertops are going to make your house sell any more quickly than what you already have there. Why spend the money in that case?

I'd put in granite and add back splash and even redo the floor.

Kitchen and bathrooms are what sell homes.

Just be neutral with your picks, because you have to do what other people will like as well.

I think it will definitely pay off.

(I watch flipping Vegas and love it or list it way too much) lol

Op- thats great you got to the bathrooms. The fixtures are so important and lighting is definitely a must too. I like the ikea style bathrooms. They look so modern and its as if the bathroom cost 10k when it was upgraded for $200. This kitchen looks clean- white makes it more open, tidy, and appealing. Now granite- some like black, some tan. If you chose the wrong color that wont go with their decor, it would make it harder to sell. So tell the realtor to suck a d..k.

Oh- and another option for the kitchen would be the handles/cabinet knobs. Changing those to something strange/fancy or modern can make the kitchen look recently renovated and its much cheaper than countertops. Nothing wrong with yours but it can change the appearance of an entire kitchen.

I love your kitchen! I wouldn't do it, and o wouldn't offer straight out the gate to give an allowance for the buyer to update them. Id wait and see if it was an issue for someone who was seriously considering to buy it!

I would update the counters, floors, and add a back splash.