We plan to put the house on the market in Spring '09. The house was build in 90/91. We have formica counter tops which are in very good condition. My DH was to replace them with granite because that's what all the new homes seems to have. I'm not sure if the expense will really help sell the house...any opinions.
The appliances were all replaced about 2 years ago. My son bought a house last year and says that no one uses wall paper anymore? The kitchen and dining room are the only rooms I have with wall paper. The kitchen definitely needs either new paper or paint. Which should I do? The dining room paper is in excellent condition so should I leave it or rip it down and paint? We plan to repaint the entire house. Currently it is off white. What would you recommend?
I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go along but thanks for any help at this point.

Wallpaper - Unless it is grasscloth or some such with no design I would take it down. A lot of people perceive it as a lot of work and are scared of what they may find behind it.

Countertops - Realize I am probably the odd man out but I have never liked granite. But if I bought a house with it in I would think changing it would be wasteful so I would think twice about buying a house with granite. Also, granite is a trend that is on its way out, particularly the dark colors. But as I say, I like different things than most who post here.

Paint - Pick a color that will enhance your house. It does not have to be beige but it should be on the lighter side as that will make the room seem lighter and there are few people who like a dark room.

I'd remove the wallpaper chances are the type of wallpaper you like won't be something most buyers will like and it is a pain to take down so buyers will keep that in mind (for me personally it wouldn't be deal breaker because I enjoy home improvements but some people wouldn't even fathom doing the work themselves so they may keep in mind how much it's going to cost to have it removed and painted).

Paint colors: I'd go w/something neutral that doesn't mean you have to do the builders beige. I did SW softer Tan in my living room and dining room to give it just enough color but not over power the rooms.

Unless all of the homes that have sold recently etc all have slab granite counters I wouldn't put the money into slabs. Grante or Quartz tiles I'd do but not slabs they are expensive some people don't like the light granite some don't like the dark etc. Quartz is actually overtaking granite now, it's true granite is starting to die out but quartz is the big thing now (well atleast in the high end homes in MA they are). but again if you change the counters out which I would do I'd do it in the tiles and not slabs the cost of tiles is about 10% of the cost of doing slabs.

Remove all wallpaper -- buyers see it as a lot of work, and trust me it is if the walls weren't properly prepped before the wallpaper was put up.

Paint with a warm neutral. Avoid white or off white because they can give a sterile feeling to a room. Instead go with a warm neutral depending on the decor of your house.

If your formica is in very good condition, leave it. I'd rather buy a home with formica and put in the countertop of my choice. If the home has a granite or quartz that I didn't like, I'd be hard pressed to convince my hubby to take out perfectly good granite just to change it to a color I'd prefer. Some people like lighter granites, some darker, some like granites with lots of movement and some like very uniform granites. Just leave the formica.

I wouldn't do granite tiles, because a lot of people just don't like tile countertops. Even though it's granite, you're still getting grout lines and I know that myself for one would have to change out the granite tiles for any other solid surface, including formica !!

I'm seeing plenty of wallpaper in model homes, designer showhouses for charity, and "Parade" homes. Unfortunately, many people are adverse to buying a home with wallpaper. Usually it's too taste specific or maybe they've had the nightmare experience of removing paper where the walls weren't properly prepped before hand. Whatever the reason, don't give buyers an easy excuse to strike your home off their list.

Jewel - smart cookie!

If your countertops are in good shape - leave them. My buyers rarely mention counters when looking at houses. They are mainly concerned the counters, cabinets and floors are in good repair.

I would definitely paint the kitchen. The dining room - depends on the wallpaper design. If it is fairly neutral you might leave it. If it is highly patterned, might want to take the time to remove it.

I agree with the others on the paint. Find a nice soft color that coordinates with your furniture.

It might help to stop in a few open houses in homes about the same age as yours to see what jumps out at you. Then do a walk through with a very critical eye at your own house.

Our home had just been painted before we purchased and every room was a soft pastel yellow or gold. I didn't paint because it had just been done and now 4 years later I really do like it in every romm after all. I have to repaint now and I think I will go with a very soft eggshell or vanilla in every room.

Do the walls, by all means, walpaper is expensive to take out. Leave the countertop. I dislike granite, so I would not like to change the countertop to one of my liking, Therefore it could become an expensive thing to have to consider, I may pass your house.

Thank you all for your input. I had DH read your suggestions and he is beginning to rethink the granite counters.

I agree with others.. take down wall paper and keep your counters. I'm also not a fan of granite.. actually getting tired of hearing that word. Happy quick selling

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chelsey1,

I agree with the others...

I will add that when I hear the shows talking about "taste-specific", I also think this applies to granite, or it would to me, anyway. I would think the wallpaper/paint projects would be more important than the counters, in any case.

We have our house on the market & did not change out the countertops or appliances; we priced the house accordingly. That way, ppl can pick out what they want.

I second hate ganite tired of hearing about it. I also second take the wallpaper down.

It is a turn off to me unless the price is low. I will never touch wallpaper again if I do not have to, hate the stuff. I do not care how attractive it is.

Oh Yikes!
I just learned something about granite.

It's a source of Radon!
It seems radon is foound in granite in high concentrations.
Just add it to the list of things that are bad for you.
Like:
cigarettes
bacon
car exaust
tomatos
computers
butter
whole milk
white bread
outgassing home products

I don't hate granite but I wouldn't use it for the simple fact it needs to be sealed every year, who knows what is in the sealer. That is why I'm leaning towards doing quartz in my kitchen on the counters.

Radon is in the ground, I know where I live when you get a house inspection they have to check the radon levels, the levels of it were high in my last home so we were told to have an exhaust pipe put in from the basement up through the roof. The house I have now the radon levels are really low so no exhaust pipe is needed.

I also read this about the granite/radon thing:

The actual levels of radon gas emissions from granites are so low as to be insignificant and generally represent no threat to the health and well-being of people who live or work in buildings with granite countertops, floor or wall tiles, furniture or any other furnishings made from granite.
Marbles, limestones and stones other than granites are of such mineral composition that they generally do not contain measurable quantities of radon-producing material. In terms of building materials, radon emissions from concrete, cement and gypsum could be of greater concern.

Must be where you live. Million dollar homes, new and older, in Dallas area have granite. Silestone is not doing well here at all, and some people have spent six figures remodeling only to turn around and spend another 20K ripping out Quartz and putting granite in.

The best advice, and it's often repeated here, is find out what homes in your neighborhood have that are selling, what they are selling for, and if it makes economic sense for you to invest in those upgrades, or price it right as is and sell.

Echoing jsdillon and others - have a look around your neighborhood and price range before you do anything.

Take online tours, go to open houses. If they have granite (and appear to be selling/generating interest) it's a good idea to keep your house up to speed and get granite, yourself.

If you aren't seeing any granite, or seeing it in homes that are doing poorly (see how long they've been on the market, how many, if any, price reductions they've had) then don't bother. You'd spend something like $2,000 and risk not getting a penny more than you would've with formica, which means you're actually losing money! Good luck and keep us updated.