Statistics reveal that almost one in ten American households, amounting to 10.9 million households, moved in 2024.1 While you should make improvements to your home that will fit your own preferences and style homeowners should also take into consideration what might attract a prospective buyer in a resale situation.
The kitchen is one of the top areas that has traditionally been seen as key to attracting buyers.
Zillow’s 2024 Consumer Housing Trends Report reveals that a majority – 57 percent of buyers – reported that “having their preferred style of kitchen was extremely or very important to their home-buying decision.”2
A minor kitchen remodel is considered as replacing cabinet fronts, getting new appliances, and/or putting in new flooring or countertops. The return on investment (ROI) for a minor kitchen remodel ranges from 129 percent in the Pacific region to a low of 94.5 percent in the West North Central Region, with most regions of the U.S. seeing between 101 percent and 134 percent average ROI.3
Replacing a countertop is a way to achieve a kitchen or bath refresh that will increase resale value.
Most Popular Countertop Choices
If you just go with what is trending, 35 percent of installed kitchen countertops in the U.S. in 2024 were made of quartz.4 Quartz is an engineered material that is heat-resistant, scratch-proof, non-porous and “in white with soft veining patterns is modern and safe – perfect for resale.”5
The next most popular countertop materials is granite, installed by 30 percent of homeowners, followed by solid surface at 12 percent, laminate at 13 percent, marble at 5 percent, ceramic slab at 3 percent and other at 2 percent.6
Besides actual buying trends, homeowners also need to consider the style and functionality of their kitchen when choosing a countertop material to improve resale value. It is also important to stay away from countertop materials that look very dramatic, as they may suit the current owner but not a prospective buyer.
Homeowners also need to consider comparable homes in the area. If many of the homes for sale, or those recently sold, have a certain type of countertop material, such as granite, then it might be best to go with that trend.
Find the Right Countertop for Your Style and Budget
A local countertop installation professional such as Wisconsin Granite Design in Oak Creek will be able to provide advice on options that will fit every style home and budget. Countertops can be the focal point in a kitchen or bath, not only providing functional surfaces for food preparation and serving but also adding style and elegance to the home.
Visit our fully stocked countertop store and showroom to explore one of the Milwaukee area’s best selections for countertop design and installation services.
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1 Mapped: Where Americans Are Moving To and From by Snejana Farberov, 7/1/2025
Link: https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/map-americans-moving-harvard-report-june-2025/?msockid=2c87ad111007647b0c6bbbcc11ca654e
2, 3 Kitchen Remodel Return on Investment for Sellers by May Ortega, 8/5/2025
Link: https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/types-of-countertop-edges/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90c09df73e
4, 6 Kitchen Countertop Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, 1/12/2026
Link: https://www.industryresearch.biz/market-reports/kitchen-countertop-market-100292
5 The Best Kitchen Countertops for Resale Value: What Design – and Data- Tell Us, 6/22/2025
Link: https://www.dreamhomeworks.com/countertops-remodeling/best-kitchen-countertops-for-resale-value/