Nothing will increase the resale value of your home than your kitchen. Forget the swimming pool, the oversized closets, or even the finished basement. The biggest bang for your buck will come from a highly functional, beautiful kitchen.
If you’re on a budget and can only focus on one kitchen element, concentrate on your kitchen countertops. Kitchen and bath professionals know that high-quality kitchen countertops make everything else in your kitchen come across as more appealing.
This guide will examine why quality countertops offer the best per-dollar value and which materials are best.
Why Countertops Matter For Home Resale Value?
Who doesn’t appreciate a beautiful kitchen countertop? But beyond looks, do they add value to your home? The answer is yes, especially when working with natural materials like granite, quartz, or marble. These aren’t just luxury choices—they’re one of the first things buyers notice when they walk into a kitchen or bath. A well-chosen countertop can instantly make a space feel more modern, clean, and move-in ready, directly impacting your home’s resale appeal.
Raising your home’s value often comes down to the right combination of updates; countertops are high on that list. The material you choose can differentiate between a buyer falling in love and moving on to the next house. Put simply, great countertops can help you stand out and sell for more.
Countertop Elements That Impact Home Value
A home’s countertops can vary significantly in design and materials. To receive a higher value, consider the factors behind your chosen materials.
Common Factors Include:
- The value of the material itself
- The durability and lifespan of the material
- The physical appearance of the material
- How much maintenance the material require
- How easy it is to repair the material
Top Countertop Materials That Add Resale Value
When choosing countertops for your home. Many different countertops in different materials can offer varying levels of value; of course, some are known to be more valuable than others.
The popularity of a material can drastically increase its value, just like changing tastes can decrease it. These materials have been known to pass the test of time:
- Granite
- Marble
- Quartz
- Natural Stone
While trends may come and go, these classic materials have consistently delivered substantial resale value and long-lasting appeal.
Countertops That May Hurt Your Home’s Value
There are types of countertops that will hurt your home’s resale value. They are a big turn-off for potential buyers looking at your home for a possible purchase. If you’re investing in a kitchen update, knowing what to avoid is just as important:
- Tile countertops: Dated and hard to clean
- Laminate: Considered low-end
- Concrete: Too modern or industrial
If your current countertops are dirty, peeling, or cracking, replacing them with higher-end materials is worth the investment, even if it’s the only thing you can afford to update in your home for resale.
Granite vs. Quartz For The Best Resale Value?
The answer to this depends on who you talk to and, to some extent, current trends. Both granite and quartz are high-quality materials, and from an interior design perspective, they exude a certain style that buyers will notice. But which one translates into a higher selling price?
Granite is an elegant choice for a high-end home. It’s a natural stone, so every slab is unique. Buyers appreciate its timeless, earthy elegance. Granite has a smooth, cool feeling and is great for kitchen work. It also looks wonderful. It’s heat-resistant and durable, requiring occasional sealing to prevent staining.
Quartz, on the other hand, is engineered for consistency. It offers a more modern look, is non-porous (meaning it never needs sealing), and comes in various colors and styles. Quartz is also slightly more durable in stain resistance and long-term maintenance. Quartz has a smoother, perhaps slicker feel than granite and is a natural stone.
So, which one wins in resale value? Both perform very well. If your home leans more traditional, granite is a natural fit. Quartz tends to appeal to today’s clean, minimalist aesthetic in newer or more modern spaces. Both materials help your home stand out, and both are considered smart, value-adding upgrades.
You Only Have $5,000 to Spend on Upgrades
You want to sell your home, but don’t have $40k to upgrade your kitchen. Your budget is more like $5k. So, how do you move the needle and add a big push to your home’s listing value?
Go for a mid-range quartz or granite in a classic, neutral tone. It doesn’t have to be high-drama to make a high impact. A fresh slab with clean lines can make your kitchen feel 10 years newer and 10x more appealing in listing photos.
Spending $5,000 on new countertops (especially quartz or granite) can often increase the listing price by $8,000 to $15,000, depending on your local real estate market and the dated condition of the old counters.
Choose the Right Countertops Today to Improve Your Home’s Resale Value Tomorrow
Your home has its style, but do your countertops look like they will bring value when you put your home on the market? If you’re considering investing in new countertops and want to make your investment count, you need the countertops Denver homebuyers are looking for.
Choose a lasting option today, and you will receive a high return on your investment later! View countertop projects by Kitchen and Bath by Design.
Family-owned for 20+ years offering high-quality, in-house fabricated marble and granite countertops and offer a wide array of comprehensive full remodeling services tailored to meet your diverse renovation needs. Visit our showroom for full-service remodeling. Fully insured, bilingual, and committed to excellence.