In today?s highly competitive housing landscape, where HGTV-worthy interiors and seamless indoor-outdoor design shape buyer expectations, surface upgrades are no longer optional; they are essential. From countertops and flooring to backsplashes and pavers, the surfaces you choose can significantly impact your home?s resale appeal and market value.
In 2025, U.S. buyers are gravitating toward turnkey homes that are stylish, functional, and require little to no updating. Key real estate trends highlight the importance of low-maintenance finishes, modern aesthetics, and indoor-outdoor living enhancements. Whether you?re preparing to list your property or simply investing for the future, upgrading to high-performing materials can pay off. In fact, when homeowners choose durable surfaces and premium materials, the average return on investment for a kitchen remodel alone can range from 54% to 81% of the project cost, making surface upgrades one of the smartest ways to boost your bottom line.
Here, we will explore how top-performing materials from MSI align with these buyer preferences and offer tangible investment potential. Backed by design-forward innovation and long-term durability, our surfaces are the gold standard for homeowners aiming to boost resale value with strategic upgrades.
Quartz Countertops: Engineered for Performance and Payback
Quartz countertops continue to dominate kitchen and bathroom remodels as one of the most valuable upgrades for resale. Our quartz surfaces are known for their non-porous, stain-resistant finish and stunning marble-look veining that rivals natural stone. They provide a durable and easy-care option that never needs sealing and withstands daily wear with minimal upkeep.
Modern buyers are drawn to quartz as a countertop option because it signals quality and eliminates concerns about upkeep. White, soft gray, or neutral-toned quartz offers broad appeal. These surfaces pair well with virtually any cabinet style and support that coveted ?move-in-ready? look.
Quartz also fits into larger trends of durable surfaces and sustainable design. Many of our collections incorporate eco-conscious technologies while maintaining premium aesthetics, making quartz a savvy upgrade for resale and for everyday living.
ROI Benefit: Experts estimate a 60?80% return on investment, particularly in mid- to high-end kitchen remodel projects. This is especially true when replacing outdated materials, such as laminate or tile countertops, with materials like quartz or engineered stone.
Natural Stone Countertops: Long-Term Value and Beauty
Blue Fusion QuartziteNatural stone surfaces such as granite and quartzite offer unmatched elevated style and individuality. Unlike engineered surfaces, each slab is unique, boasting bold veining, intricate color patterns, and deep natural texture. These properties make real stone countertops a standout choice in luxury remodels.
Key benefits include heat resistance, rich visual depth, and long-term durability. Buyers often associate granite and quartzite with craftsmanship and permanence. In fact, real estate listings that highlight ?granite countertops? frequently see higher engagement and offer prices, especially in premium or custom-built homes.
Our natural stone selections elevate any space with enduring charm. Though stone surfaces may require occasional sealing, their lifespan and distinctive beauty give them lasting value.
ROI Benefit: In high-end homes, granite and quartzite can dramatically influence a buyer?s perception and justify premium pricing. Multiple studies show that kitchen upgrades featuring granite and quartzite countertops typically recoup 60?80% of their installed cost at resale. When paired with upscale fixtures and backsplash tile, natural stone surfaces transform kitchens, bathrooms, and even outdoor spaces into luxurious retreats.
Backsplashes and Wall Tile: Small Upgrades, Big Returns
Urbanslat Flute Maple Wall Panels
Even a modest design refresh can go a long way, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Adding or updating wall tile or backsplash tile is a cost-effective way to modernize without undergoing a full renovation. Buyers instantly notice clean lines and updated finishes, and new wall or backsplash tile is one of the most visible yet affordable ways to make a lasting impression.
Our broad range of tile options, from classic subway tile to decorative encaustic, fluted, and mosaic styles, brings texture and personality to any kitchen or bath.
Don?t overlook shower surrounds, accent walls, or fireplaces. These vertical tile applications help homes stand out during showings and can contribute to that emotional ?wow? factor that leads to higher offers.
ROI Benefit: These small upgrades can yield a return of 50-70%, particularly when included in a minor kitchen remodel. In addition to being functional, a well-chosen backsplash provides a focal point that anchors cabinetry, countertops, and appliances into a cohesive design.
Porcelain Tile: Versatile, Durable, and Water-Friendly
Elbe Ash Porcelain TileTile flooring is a cornerstone of high-traffic area design, and few materials are as durable or design-forward as porcelain tile. From floors and walls to showers and fireplaces, porcelain tile delivers moisture resistance, scratch resistance, and style that lasts for decades.
Our porcelain collections come in natural stone and wood looks, oversized formats (like 24? x 48? or 48? x 48?), and even slab styles for a clean, high-end aesthetic. Buyers love its low maintenance and consistent appearance, and neutral tones offer universal appeal.
Using porcelain tile to create indoor-outdoor continuity is another key trend in 2025. Our durable tile surfaces make patios, sunrooms, and kitchens feel interconnected, extending perceived living space and enhancing overall home value.
ROI Benefit: Replacing dated flooring with modern porcelain tile can yield an ROI of 60?80%, especially in bathrooms and entryways. It also plays well in open-concept layouts where tile flows seamlessly from kitchen to living areas or from indoor to outdoor settings.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVP & LVT): Style Meets Affordability
Studio?? Quillian Luxury Vinyl Planks
If you?re considering new floors, luxury vinyl flooring is one of the best all-around investments for both functionality and ROI. It combines the look of hardwood or stone with waterproof, scratch-resistant performance. Our extensive line of modern vinyl includes rigid core, glue-down, and floating formats to suit every installation type in the entire house.
Design-wise, LVP and LVT are offered in a variety of wood tones and patterns, giving you flexibility to match existing aesthetics or modernize completely. These floors are especially appealing to families and pet owners who value resilience, quiet comfort, and low-maintenance care.
Whether it?s a refresh for an outdated home or a finishing touch in a new build, our luxury vinyl options provide stylish practicality that enhances both everyday living and resale performance.
ROI Benefit: Luxury vinyl typically returns 70?100%, especially in starter homes, rental properties, or whole-home renovations. In fact, the National Association of Realtors reports that new floors are among the highest-ROI improvements, often resulting in a quicker sale and higher selling price.
Outdoor ROI Boosters:
Maximize Curb Appeal and Living Space
Kaya Zermatta Blanca Arterra? Pavers, Amber Falls Stacked Stone, and Evergrass? Meadow Green Pet-Turf 91
With more buyers prioritizing indoor-outdoor living, outdoor surface upgrades are proving to be just as valuable as interior remodels. The following surface materials help homeowners expand usable living space, boost curb appeal, and command higher asking prices.
Porcelain Pavers
Porcelain pavers are a smart choice for patios, walkways, and pool decks, combining the look of natural stone, concrete, or wood with slip resistance, fade resistance, UV protection, frost resistance, and exceptional strength.
ROI Benefit: Outdoor patios can deliver 60?80% ROI, especially when they add function and aesthetic appeal. Buyers see value in properties with move-in-ready entertainment zones.
Stacked Stone & Stone Veneer
Stacked stone panels and veneers are one of the highest-return exterior upgrades. They transform fireplace surrounds, fa鏰des, outdoor kitchens, and feature walls into standout selling points. Equally at home indoors or out, these panels offer flexible application options that enhance both curb appeal and interior charm.
ROI Benefit: Remodeling Magazine ranks stone veneer among the top ROI projects, often returning more than 100% of the investment, thanks to its dramatic visual impact on curb appeal.
Artificial Turf
Synthetic turf offers a lush, green lawn year-round without watering, mowing, or fertilizing. Especially attractive in drought-prone areas, artificial grass appeals to eco-conscious buyers and those who prioritize a low-maintenance lifestyle.
ROI Benefit: Turf can increase perceived value and shorten time on market, especially in family-oriented suburbs. Beyond cost savings, turf enhances exterior aesthetics in a big way, delivering instant curb appeal and year-round greenery with minimal upkeep. In fact, homes with ?turf? in their listing description sell for 1.1% more than expected and close eight days faster than similar homes. This highlights how eco-friendly, low-maintenance outdoor upgrades can significantly impact buyer interest and resale performance.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Choosing the Right Projects
Home improvements should be both lifestyle-driven and value-driven. Conducting a smart cost-benefit analysis helps determine where your budget will yield the biggest returns. Surface materials, especially those in high-traffic areas or first-impression zones (kitchens, baths, entries, patios), offer high-impact results relative to their cost.
Minor kitchen or bathroom remodel projects that include new countertops, flooring, and tile accents often recoup the majority of their cost and contribute disproportionately to the home?s perceived value. When these upgrades feature our industry-leading materials, the benefits are both aesthetic and financial.
Focus on neutral color palettes, durable finishes, and cohesive styling throughout the home to ensure buyer appeal. And always prioritize quality installation, as poor execution can undercut even the best materials.
Final Insights: Design Psychology and Buyer Behavior
In today?s market, real estate is as much about emotion as it is square footage. Buyers want to walk into a space and immediately feel at home. Upgraded surfaces play a pivotal role in that perception.
When you choose stylish, on-trend materials from our collections, you?re not just refreshing your space, you?re increasing its value and sale potential. Whether it?s the visual impact of a new backsplash, the luxury feel of quartz countertops, or the durability of vinyl plank floors, these upgrades align with modern buyer expectations.
Smart Investments with Long-Term Payoff
Upgrading your surfaces is one of the most cost-effective ways to elevate your home?s appeal and profitability. We offer an extensive collection of high-performance materials and countertop options that check every box for design, durability, and ROI.
Whether you?re selling soon or staying long-term, now is the perfect time to invest in upgrades that deliver. Chat with us online, visit an MSI showroom to discover where to buy quartz countertops and other premium surfaces, or use our online Visualizer Tools to elevate your space and secure a return you can see and feel.