To Granite or not Granite.....a flip?

Question

Will Granite countertops bring anymore money to the table? Does it create the "it" factor in a flip house? Does it help the sale? The house was built in 2006and is just shy of 2000 sqft.

Completely fix and re-texture sheetrock in the entire house

Fresh paint

New flooring

New lighting

New shower and tub in guest bath

All new doors

New base and trim

New appliances

Scraped all popcorn

Fresh landscaping

Bill B. · Answer

I’ve found Granite to be the 2nd cheapest countertops behind the cheapest laminate you can find, and Maybe some butcher block. With the standardization of 8’ slabs a standard kitchen can be done for less than $2,000, sometimes $1200-$1500. That includes ripping out the old countertop, materials and installation and a new stainless under mount sink.

Brian Pulaski · Answer

This must be very area specific. I just got a quote for my tiny kitchen, $3300-3600. I do agree on always doing granite on flips.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Definitely install a stone countertop of some type. Quartz would be my first choice (quartz the manmade, not quartzite the natural stone), granite second.

You should be able to find a pre-finished stone yard somewhere near you. They will have pieces of stone that are 26" wide by 6', 7', 8' long. The edges are prefinished/polished, and all they need to do is cut the sink hole and faucet holes.

And don't ignore granite just because it's not the 'cool deal' right now. There are plenty of really gorgeous pieces of granite out there....

Hai Loc · Answer

The quotes I get in Buffalo vs Ohio is day and night. These contractors should be living in A class neighborhoods in Erie County

Russell Brazil · Answer

Yup.....here in DC quartz is pretty much standard now. The only place we are seeing granite is in the large production new construction in the outer suburbs.

Although everyone is using the same exact quartz, which is starting to get boring.

Will Barnard · Answer

I concur, with the exception of lower end homes as you don’t want to over build your home either. Generally speaking, quartz is the best thing most want, and granite, while going “outdated” for a few years (atvleast here on the west coast) is now coming back stronger. Porcelain counter tops are also a new rage and very durable but slightly more costly than quartz. Unless you are doing $1.5M or greater value homes (CA/NY/ coastal values which would be about $600k or less in most other locations) then that would be overkill.

I love quartz and use them regularly. We have prefabricated slabs we get for $300-$700 per slab which are 9 feet long and cover width of counter plus backsplash.

To answer the original question, look at what your competition has and. Then do that or something slightly better to attract the best buyers at the highest price for flips.

Gabe Waldrep · Answer

When flipping a house, using granite, marble, or quartz is a must. They bring value as well as help sell a house faster.

Bill B. · Answer

Make sure you going to suppliers not retailers. 8 foot by 26” should be Available just under $300 with 8 feet of 6” backsplash. The rest is just labor & a $150 sink. With waste 3 of these is usually about max for materials.

I’m not talking fancy granite but it isn’t that god-awful black and yellow with purple highlights everyone’s using.  It’s so dark.

Ps. I switched to quartz on my last place as it has suddenly dropped in price to only 10% more than granite. Although I never sealed any of the granite I had installed previously, the quartz isn’t supposed to need that either.

Aaron Schrader · Answer

Soapstone can also be a pretty cool countertop option, just offering as a point of consideration.  I think with most stone, as others have said, I'd stay away from anything that is really distinct in its coloration or patterning.

Nicolas Looman · Answer

In a sellers market this isn't always necessary. In a home in Austin the market is scorching hot regardless of the econ state. These people are going to rip out whatever they see regardless and have witnessed 10k worth of fresh marble being with the demo crew moments after closing.

My market in Ohio is somewhat different with it leaning towards a buyers market in most areas. In this circumstance I would say granite is absolutely a great way to increase home value in a flip.

I would even say doubling down on this that if your contracting staff is competent in making their own templating and installing the cuts themselves the money is doubly worth the squeeze.

To Granite or not Granite.....a flip?

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