Home improvement is a worthy investment that enhances both the quality of your daily life and the value of your home. Renovations and remodels add to the comfort and beauty of your living space and increase its resale appeal. And while any upgrades are more than welcome, it is the areas that see the most use that you should focus on improving – not only for greater functionality and enjoyment, but also for higher market value should you decide to sell the property.

The kitchen is the hub of daily life in the home.

Kitchens top the list of the most impactful rooms in a home – people spend a lot of time there, not only preparing food and enjoying their meals, but also entertaining guests, catching up with friends, bonding with family, etc. Therefore, homeowners want their kitchen to be practical and enjoyable, and potential buyers pay special attention to the room because of its central role in family life and social activities.

So, if you’re considering a home improvement, it will be smart to invest in renovating the kitchen. One good way to revamp the room and achieve the high-end look and clean, durable designs that are so desirable in a contemporary kitchen is to install granite countertops. Due to their great functionality and classic beauty, granite counters are among the most sought-after features in a home. They will not only make your everyday life more pleasurable, but will also greatly increase the resale value of your property.

Do Granite Countertops Increase Home Value?

One of the most beautiful and most durable natural stones on earth, granite creates a charming accent in your home, while also providing you with a long-lasting and extremely convenient surface to work on.

Aesthetic appeal

Highly praised for its rich colors and distinctive veining, granite adds unparalleled splendor and unique character to the kitchen décor. Each slab has its own specific shade and peculiar flecks and streaks, allowing for impressive visual effects and personalized designs. It is exactly these subtle variations and striking contrasts that make granite look so luxurious and stylish in any kitchen.

Great durability and practicality

Beautiful and durable, granite countertops always become the centerpiece of a room.

Extremely strong and hard, granite can retain its gorgeous look and feel for many years of heavy use. When properly sealed, it is highly resistant to scratches and stains and takes normal wear and tear very well. What’s more, granite doesn’t conduct heat and can withstand up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit without sustaining any damage. Granite surfaces are unlikely to be marred by cutting, scraping or any other commonplace kitchen activities and have very little maintenance requirements – all you need to do in order to keep your granite countertops clean and good-looking is wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with warm water and a mild detergent at the end of the day.

This durable, easy to clean, heat- and scratch-resistant surface is very suitable for food preparation and perfect for kitchen countertops.

Complementary nature

Ranging across the spectrum from snow white through vibrant reds and blues, to stark black in color and available in a wide variety of textures, granite can suit any kitchen design and personal taste. Its great versatility allows it to easily match the existing home décor, while adding visual interest to the room and creating a focal point in your kitchen.

Granite surfaces are very versatile and work well in all kinds of interior designs – you can easily find a shade that coordinates with the color of your kitchen cabinets, furniture pieces, and flooring, so that you have a cohesive new look without changing everything in the room. An elegant granite countertop can be easily incorporated in any future renovation plans as well.

It is, therefore, perfectly clear that installing granite countertops in your kitchen will add a lot of practical and aesthetic value to your home. So, it is definitely a good idea when planning a home improvement project.

What if you’re planning to put your home on the market in the next few years, though? Does it make financial sense to replace your old counters shortly before the sale? Will granite countertops increase the resale value of your home? It all depends on a number of relevant factors, of course (mainly – the quality and condition of your current countertops), but more often than not, the answer will be “yes”.

How Much Do Granite Countertops Increase the Resale Value of a Home?

Granite countertops have been popular for many decades and are almost guaranteed to never go out of style.

Granite surfaces are among the most sought-after features in a home.

People love the aesthetic appeal and longevity of granite and are willing to pay a bit extra for its unique nature, stunning beauty, great durability, and ease of maintenance. In fact, granite countertops are often listed among the first “must haves” that potential buyers want in their new homes. So, not having them in your home can rule it out as a potential option for buyers.

This means that replacing your old countertops with granite surfaces before putting your home on the market is a very smart decision – it will make your property acceptable to more buyers and will greatly increase its appeal – and that’s worth a lot.

What about the financial balance though? Will the investment pay off?

It’s an easy calculation, once you know the facts:

• It is generally considered that a remodeled kitchen adds about 80% to 100% of the renovation cost to the home’s selling price;
• Homes with granite surfaces always command higher sale prices on the open market than comparable homes in the same area without this desirable feature;
• Homes with granite countertops sell faster and easier than ones without the premium amenity.

In most cases, you won’t get all of the money you spent on the new countertops back, but granite countertops are so desirable that having them in your kitchen will put your home in the forefront of the real estate market. This will result in a quick and profitable sale.

One final piece of advice – Be wise in your choice of new granite countertops. Opt for a color and style that will enhance the overall look of the kitchen and will result in maximum comfort and efficiency. You can try to make an impression with a bold interior solution, but going with neutral colors and a versatile design is your safer option.

Whatever you choose though, granite countertops are certain to add enduring value and timeless appeal to your home.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.