One common question I hear from clients when offering consultation is, ”Should I replace my countertops?”
If your countertops are damaged, no matter the price point of your home, they should be replaced. No one will purchase a home that is not well cared for. If they do, they expect a much lower purchase price. It would cost less to replace the countertops.
Another downside to not replacing them is that most potential buyers are in the market for move-in ready. So even if you lower the price to accommodate, you are more likely to lose some potential offers altogether.
So the next question is, “What do I replace the counter with?”
Will updated Formica do? There is granite, quartz, Butcher block, and so many, many choices. The answer is based on a few questions about the property.
What is the condition of your home?
What are the comparables in the area?
If your home is in good shape and has had many upgrades throughout then having updated counters will give you the edge to show your home as move in ready.
There are many grades of granite at different price points, so your choice should depend on the price point of your home. In $200 and $300-thousand and under, stone countertops are not typically expected but would give you the edge over your competition. If your price point is more than $300.000 plus then most buyers are looking for granite and are willing to pay extra.
Last consideration when replacing countertops is the condition of your kitchen cabinets. They should be solid and in good condition. Shiny new counters, especially a higher-end countertop like granite, added on top of dated old cabinets makes those cabinets stick out like a sore thumb and just serves to highlight how awful they really are.
So clean them up, replace the hardware, re-stain and/or paint the cabinetry and it will compliment those beautiful new stone countertops and make your investment shine.
If you have a question for “Ask The Home Staging Expert”, please contact
Images Staged with Flair
905-980-4962
www.imagesstagedwithflair.ca
