Buying Granite Countertops in a Down Market

Virginia Beach, Virginia - Anyone reading the business section of most newspapers will note that there is no shortage of bad news, however, there are a few emerging trends that can benefit most consumers looking to update their kitchens or bathrooms.

As we all know, overall unemployment is up, spending is down and most companies are looking at cutting costs any way possible. In the granite business, I’m noticing that overall inventory levels of my suppliers/importers are shrinking. As a consumer, this doesn’t mean that there are fewer choices available, but it does mean that a supplier will entertain creative ways to liquidate their inventory and bring levels to a more manageable level.
For Example, most importers will keep only one bundle of Juparana Bordeaux instead of the three that they would stock several years ago. In order to understand how granite countertops are priced, you have to realize that every granite fabricator, such as Quality Stone Concepts, has a different way to rate the cost of granite. Some use the scale Low, Mid, High, Exotic; others use a Level 1, 2, 3, and 4. We at QSC use the Low – Exotic scale.

In the same way that building boom drove the cost of most Low priced stones to “rock bottom” prices, this shifting of inventory levels is slowly starting to make some of the Mid, High and Exotic slabs more affordable. We at Quality Stone Concepts, recommend that when considering granite countertops in this market, choose wisely. Don’t just assume that since you’ve seen the selections at Home Depot or Lowes that you’ve seen it all. In my most recent trip to Fleet Imports and Marva Marble, I viewed over 200 different unique slabs of granite, marble and limestone (and you guessed it, many of which are on sale).

In summary, if you are looking at buying countertops in these economic times, the market is ripe for you to obtain a unique stone that is not offered at Home Depot or Lowes. By using a custom fabricator, such as Quality Stone Concepts, you can obtain a price that is typically one level lower than it was just 3-5 years ago.

Ryan Culicerto Owner – Quality Stone Concepts