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.