KIRSTEN COLE REAL ESTATE
  • Home
  • Meet Kirsten
    • Testimonials
  • Properties
  • Buy
  • Sell
  • Real Estate Info
    • Beach Life
    • News & Resources
    • Beach Cities Market Updates
Picture

imagine your Beach life

Granite countertops: 4 tips to save big money

8/24/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Granite countertops are one of the hottest trends today in kitchen and bathroom remodeling. Why are they so popular? Granite counters are uniquely beautiful, incredibly resilient, and germ-resistant hygienic. They can also do wonders for your home's property value. Unfortunately for home owners, all of these great attributes typically come at a high cost. Here are four tips to more affordably get those beautiful granite countertops you've always wanted:

1. Buy online
Purchasing your granite countertops online online can help you source the absolute best price for that custom look you want in your kitchen. Online sellers are forced to align their prices to meet the many online competitors in the market, which give you tremendous bang for your buck. The one drawback to buying online is that photographs don't always do justice to the look, feel and color of the granite. Look for online sellers close to your hometown if you'd like to see the material in person before buying.

2. Choose a less popular color
The granite color you choose will greatly impact the design of your kitchen, and it will also impact the price. Tan, black and white granite all go for top dollar because neutrals are the most sought after. If you can make a less popular color work in your kitchen, you may benefit from a great deal on a more unique looking slab.

3. Avoid big box chain stores
If you go to one of the home improvement giants then prepare to pay the big bucks. Even if a slab is labeled as “on sale” it may still be priced well above what it can be found for at a wholesale warehouse  and you'll be missing out on a much larger selection since big box retailers typically only carry 10 to 20 different color configurations if you’re lucky.

4. Buy pre-fabricated granite
Here's a little secret that most granite installers don’t want you know about: it's called pre-fabricated granite and it is taking the kitchen world by storm. Pre-fab granite can provide the same quality Italian stone, a perfect fit for your kitchen, and the exact same durability for nearly half the cost. How, you ask? When you buy a traditional unfinished granite slab the installer not only has to cut the granite into the proper pieces to fit your kitchen but he also has to finish the edges. This labor costs you big bucks—the labor to install and finish can sometimes cost twice as much as the granite slab itself! Pre-fabricated Italian granite is typically shipped to China to be manufactured, so a huge percentage of the labor you would normally require for is absorbed into the cost of the pre-fabricated granite you purchase. All your installer has to do is pick up the granite from the supplier, take it to your home and do some basic dimension cuts. With the edges already neat and finished, the installation can be done in one day which saves you a TON of money. Even if you are working with strange dimensions in your kitchen or bathroom, there are now multiple widths and lengths of pre-fab granite up to 11ft long.

1 Comment
Victoria Addington link
11/8/2022 11:44:42 pm

It was most captivating when you shared that opting for a less popular color for your granite countertop allows you to have a unique kitchen. My friend wants their granite countertop to be distinct. I think it's best for them to opt for a custom granite countertop to match their desired look.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    More articles:

    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

​Contact Kirsten to get started today. 

(310) 756-3524
Kirsten.cole@VistaSIR.com

Ask her about her newsletter to get current South Bay Market information and real estate news right to your inbox... no spammy ones, promise! 
Vista Sotheby's International Real Estate

    Buying, selling, or investing in our beautiful beach cities,
    Kirsten is happy to answer any questions you may have.

    Please use this form to ask a question, request a market evaluation for your home or property, or just to say hello. 

Submit
Copyright © 2021 Kirsten Cole. All rights reserved. 
  • Home
  • Meet Kirsten
    • Testimonials
  • Properties
  • Buy
  • Sell
  • Real Estate Info
    • Beach Life
    • News & Resources
    • Beach Cities Market Updates