What's reasonable for kitchen counter replacement?

LS3C6

LS3C6

Forum Member
Selling the house in the spring, it's 10yrs old, mid-range spec built 2000sq/ft 4 bed/2 bath open concept dealio.

Kitchen has 40sqft in island and L shaped counter, backsplash is also the same laminate and the tops... standard 18" space between counter and cabinet. Has decent maple cabinets with crown trim.

Was getting quoted for granite at about $55/sqft for install/material, but add $175 for counter disposal and another $175 for plumbing hookup. $14/linear foot for tile backsplash.

So around $3000-3200 for this configuration, they provide a free undermount sink with install and this price is applicable for granite or quartz. I'm choosing granite because HGTV has everyone loving on granite and I want the place to sell quickly because it's very clean.

So anyone with experience here? I don't plan to get more than 160-165 for the house so should I just do a granite look alike laminate and tile the backsplash? Opinions?
 
granite is over kill in your price range
if your counter tops still look presentable leave em
paint every thing off white
and spend the rest on your wife and kids you wont get the 3 grand back
 
Bathroom upgrades return a much higer per dollar investment. If it's 10 years old and looks good, I'd leave the kitchen, or as a selling point, tell any perspective buyer that you'll give them an up to 3,000 upgrade to the home. Their choice of what they want, to be installed after closing.
 
Everything in the house looks fine and I wouldn't even be considering replacing these, except I dropped a coffee mug on the top and put a 1mm gouge in the laminate, you can't see it unless you look for it but that's all it takes for me to want to redo everything.

And well, every spec built 10yr old house is the same, laminate everything, creme walls, white trim, midgrade carpets... wouldn't be a bad thing to spruce up the kitchen so it sells quickly?
 
Carpet after 10 yrs would be a bigger sell to me if the kitchen is in good working order and not dated. You'll never see hte return on the Granite. Focus more on curb appeal and maybe carpet. a 1MM gouge is to be expected in a used homes kitchen. I'm looking for a house, and speaking from what i'm loking for/at.
 
you would be better off offering the 3500-4k as a "cash incentive" to buyers to choose their own counters
 
Billydroveit said:
Carpet after 10 yrs would be a bigger sell to me if the kitchen is in good working order and not dated. You'll never see hte return on the Granite. Focus more on curb appeal and maybe carpet. a 1MM gouge is to be expected in a used homes kitchen. I'm looking for a house, and speaking from what i'm loking for/at.
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I would also agree with this. If your builders grade carpet is anything like mine, then you're lucky it's lasted 10 years. Again, another selling point. After closing, I'll install a carpet of your choice in xxx rooms.
 
In my opinion you will be flushing the money down the toilet. I just sold my home. I did not get any return for the updates I did on my 10yo house (bathroom and kitchen upgrades).

People want clean and uncluttered look. Paint and carpet may sell a house quicker, but I wouldn't expect to make any money back. Check with a couple realtors, they don't charge for a walkthrough and some comp's.

Glenn
 
Well you're right about the granite thing. Most people cannot even tell if it's granite, corian, or quartz. All they care about is telling people that it's granite, because that's what they have been told to love.
I also agree with the points above. Paint (no wild colors, no high gloss shit) goes a long way. Offering a $3-4K cash incentive would be really motivating for a potential buyer, too.

stalked_R/T said:
If your builders grade carpet is anything like mine, then you're lucky it's lasted 10 years. .
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I would call it mass produced home grade carpet, not builders grade. There are MANY home builders out there that use nothing but great material.
 
I personally avoid granite countertops, google "granite countertop radiation"



hint, they mine uranuim out of granite
 
well maybe i won't worry about it, the dining room is carpet and the kitchen is laminate, they are connected... shouldn't i AT LEAST put bamboo down and leave the counters/backsplash? I'm a lawn nazi so landscaping is well addressed, the house sits 10 minutes from downtown GR and 10 minutes from allendale's GVSU campus which means nothing to most people on this site, marketability isn't a problem I just figured do some updates and be that much more desirable. The lower level has brand new carpet I put in when I bought it... infact so new there is nothing in the basement at all lol just a bunch of empty rooms (previous owner did a fine job of finishing the basement with a builder, but didn't do the flooring since he got married or smoething and was selling)


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...I'm also an efficiency nazi, ceiling is R60, sidewalls are R20 or greater and highest electric bill this summer was $57, highest heating bill was $110 last winter with a set point of 70 winter, 72-73 summer... disclosing utility bills should entice buyers no?
 
Golden said:
Absolutely advertise the utility bill cost.
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I ask when there's a home owner involved...so yes! My last house was foam filled in the walls and rim joist sealed in basement....new owners will be happy to hear.

I would list the house as is...nice looking place.
 
with the beating your taking on value that the house should have gained the last 10 years keep the 3 grand in your pocket

leave heating and electric bills on the counter when buyers come through

yard looks great wanna come be my yard bitch?
 
Well everyone wants to charge me $1500-2000 for laminate since they want to build new countertops... refuses to go over existing laminate. So makes zero sense to NOT buy the granite at this point.
 
LS3C6 said:
Well everyone wants to charge me $1500-2000 for laminate since they want to build new countertops... refuses to go over existing laminate. So makes zero sense to NOT buy the granite at this point.
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I have close to 50sqft in granite countertops and I paid 2k with sink with black galaxy as color...
 
Well I ended up getting bamboo flooring kitchen/dining, desert brown granite, tile backsplash, faucet, sink, plumbing & hardware for $3500... i'm not disappointed.

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