Laurel, Maryland Kitchen Rehab Finish Level

[Matt Vaughn]

Brain Trust:

We're rehabbing a kitchen at 9300 N Laurel Rd, Laurel, Maryland (Howard County).  The house is a 1980 4 bed 2 bath house.  My comps in the area seem to show laminate countertops and nothing particularly fancy.  That said, I wanted your perspective on a couple questions:

1. What counter top type do you recommend for a flip in this area?  If granite/quartz, where are you getting your stone? We're considering part of 

2. We plan on white Ikea cabinets.  Let me know if you know something I don't. 

3. We're between wood-like tile and engineered hardwood (floating system).  Any strong opinions here?

[Russell Brazil]

What is the price point on your ARV? That is going to determine a lot of this info.

1) Granite at the very least. Laminate is absolutely not acceptable in a flip, probably anywhere in the entire DC metro area. There are actually several granite choices available in the market place that are not any more money than laminate.

2) I would not use IKEA cabinets. They are seen as being cheap. I would use Aristokraft cabinets in a flip whose ARV is $425k or less. If we are talking $500k or more then you need something better than Aristokraft. I find the shaker style is pretty good for flips these days.

3) Where is this going? I would not use wood-like tile. Basement I would use tile, possibly carpet. Main level wood or engineered hardwood. If the main level is the bottom level which prevents the use of wood...I would go with an engineered hardwood that will do ok with the moisture. Top floor carpet or matching wood/engineered wood. Whatever you use on the main level. $425kish and under, carpet is ok upstairs, price above that you should really consider matching floor upstairs to match the main level.