Granite or laminate countertops?

[Patrick Philip]

I know that I should use granite in higher-end flips, but what about those that are not so higher-end? A realtor told me that buyers are really looking for granite, but I don't want to overrehab.

What is your guideline for when to use laminate and when to use granite?

[Bob Okenwa]

@Patrick Philip

What kind of neighborhood are you flipping in? B, C, D? What do the other rehabs/flips have in theirs? If yours has all the finishes that look like an apartment and theirs has higher end items, yours will stick out (in a bad way) like a sore thumb and sell and appraise for less than your competition. I'd suggest you open up Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, Trulia (whichever suits you best) and search for comps in the area and type in "remodel", "upgraded", or "renovated" into the keyword text box in the search filters and take a look to see how flips are being remodeled in your area. 

You're going to have to do some searching to find local granite suppliers in your area. A Google search is a good place to start. Maybe attend a REIA meetup and ask others where they go.

Quartz and marble are higher end than granite.

It sounds like you're trying to find the least expensive of everything in a flip. Not a bad idea per se as everyone wants to keep costs down, but you get out what you put in. If the handyman does good work and moves quickly, then you should be all right. But the quality of your product will be representative of the design elements and efforts you put into it. Buyers watch all of those HGTV shows and are pickier today more so than ever. Laminate counters, cheap cabinets, white appliances, and $8 light fixtures may save you money, but it also won't make you any money either. Don't step over dollars to pick up quarters.