When selecting the finishes for your home, you may or may not be worrying about how your choices will affect your home’s value in the event that you try to sell. One of the biggest home improvement projects that people perform involves updating the kitchen countertops.
Do Granite Countertops Increase Home Value?
Granite countertops are long-term investments that tend to help boost your home’s value in the current housing market. While the initial installation may seem like a costly expense, when it comes time to sell your home, you will see your home sell much more quickly and at a higher price than if you had laminate countertops.
Granite countertops are both durable and beautiful. Since they can last in homes for decades, many buyers will love the fact that they have been set up with countertops that they don’t have to worry about replacing any time soon. Homeowners love that granite is scratch-, stain-, and heat-resistant, which makes it practical countertop material.
If granite is a little out of your price range, consider quartz, which has a similar natural stone look, but tends to cost a little less. In fact, quartz is typically easier to maintain and better at resisting chipping than granite, but it doesn’t have the same heat- and stain-resistant powers that granite does.
Both granite and quartz come in a variety of color and pattern options that can help you give your kitchen just the look you want. You can find both light and dark granite and quartz options that can change the mood of your kitchen.
How Else Can Your Kitchen Increase the Value of Your Home?
Don’t just stop with granite countertops. A fully updated kitchen will help you fetch the highest price for your home. During an upgrade, consider adding a backsplash, painting cabinets, putting in a new sink, adding unique lighting, and upgrading any appliances that will stay with the home. Modern kitchens are considered the heart of the home to many people, and the nicer the kitchen looks, the easier it will be to sell your home at a higher cost.
Most of these small improvements can be made fairly inexpensively, and if you are handy around the house or good at DIY projects, some of them you can even do yourself. Backsplashes are an easy way to make your kitchen look more expensive and so are stainless steel appliances. Depending on how you are redoing your kitchen, you may want to consider a different style of sink to better match the new look of the kitchen.
If you don’t already have a kitchen island, it may be a good idea to put one in during your home renovations. Islands have become an extremely popular way to get extra counter space, especially in large kitchens. You can also get extra seating around an island, which makes them a good replacement for a breakfast nook in smaller kitchens.
When upgrading your kitchen, remember that you want to keep it in the same realm as the rest of your home. You will also want to consider the value of homes in your neighborhood. You won’t want to put $50,000 into redoing a kitchen in a $200,000 home because the rest of the home won’t match, and your property value probably won’t increase proportionately because of the rest of the house.
Properly Maintaining Granite and Stone Countertops
Keep your granite countertops in tip-top shape to preserve your home’s value with Rock Doctor’s granite cleaning system. Maintaining granite or other stone countertops is extremely important. Without proper care, it is more likely that your granite countertops will sustain damage and require professional repair or replacement.
Use the Rock Doctor Granite & Quartz Cleaner to remove dirt and germs from your countertop without risking damage due to harmful chemicals that can be found in most household cleaners. It is important that you never use all-purpose cleaners on your granite countertops, because it can remove the sealant that protects the stone.
The Rock Doctor Granite & Stone Sealer should be applied once every 12 to 18 months to reseal the granite countertops. This seal prevents stains and water damage to the granite. The sealant should be applied after you clean your countertops thoroughly.
To make your granite countertops look beautiful all the time, use the Rock Doctor Granite & Quartz Polish once a week. The polish will make your granite countertops shine like they are brand new and also help protect them against water damage and stains.
Rock Doctor’s line of granite cleaning products can be found online at Amazon and in-store at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Menards. If you have any questions about caring for your stone countertops, call Rock Doctor at 913-894-0288.
