Granite Countertops Most Popular Home Upgrade
Even for small homes, granite is a must
By Chris Brawley Morgan
Special Correspondent
 Not that long ago, Formica — economical, functional, unglamorous but not necessarily unattractive — was "in” for kitchen countertops. Today, most people go with granite countertops, even in the most economical new homes. “It's amazing. It's really shocking to me,” home builder Aaron Tatum said. "Even for a 1,500-square-foot home, it's a granite top or you can't sell it.” Steve Shoemaker used the same word — "shocked” — in talking about Ideal Homes' reaction to the popularity of granite kitchen counters in its least expensive homes, which start at 1,000 square feet. In 2007, Ideal Homes, based in Norman, closed about 400 homes in central Oklahoma. The average price was $150,000.
Granite countertops was one of the most popular upgrades in the least expensive homes, said Shoemaker, marketing director. "It's not uncommon in a 1,000- to 1,600-square-foot range for people to choose to add in a solid surface, as opposed to upgrades in carpets or other areas,” he said.
Granite — or Corian, another solid surface — are automatically included in the more expensive homes, Shoemaker said. "It's expected, frankly. That's why we offer it as a standard feature,” he said.
Nationally, more buyers last year said it's "very important” for their homes to have granite counters in the kitchen.
In the National Association of Realtors' Profile of Buyers' Home Feature Preferences, 23 percent of respondents, compared to 17 percent in 2004, preferred granite. In general, the survey found that home features once considered luxuries are now standards expected by buyers. More home buyers in 2007 also said it was "very important” to have a whirlpool tub in the bathroom, hardwood floors throughout the house and a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, according to the survey.
It underscores how important the kitchen is, he said.
"The kitchen is really the hub of any home, especially in today's floor plans, that are open. People want their kitchens to look nice.”
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