Is solid-surface/granite countertop worth it in rental?

[Gusatvus Johnson]

I'm redoing the kitchen in a 4-bedroom rental. The Realtor I work with strongly recommends putting in solid-surface (i.e., Corian or similar) or granite rather than laminate for the countertop. The price for laminate installed will be around $1200, versus $3500 for solid-surface or granite.

That's a big price difference and I'm having a hard time believing it will be worth it. The rental is in the top 25 percent cost-wise for the neighborhood, due mostly to its being a very large unit, but most other homes in the neighborhood don't have granite or solid-surface counters. The unit is also old (about a hundred years) and although I just refinished the floors and did fresh paint throughout, it's never going to have the feel of a new-construction building where tenants expect granite or Corian as part of their "luxury" kitchen. Finally, the rest of the kitchen will be nothing special: Basic cabinets, basic linoleum floor, basic standard appliances -- so I'm not convinced that fancy countertops would even fit.

Should I believe the Realtor (whom I'm hiring to find a tenant for the place) or stick with my gut and go with less expensive laminate? I know everyone's mileage on this topic will vary depending on lots of factors, but I'm curious for thoughts.

[Ned Carey]

@Gusatvus Johnson this is where knowing your market is important.  We now put granite in most of our rentals. These are relatively low cost rentals in Baltimore City.  For us the kitchens are so small, we might only use 10-12 sq ft of granite do the difference is not much. 

If your competition has granite and you don't it may take longer to rent. If your competition does not have it, it may not be needed or might give you a competitive edge.