What do I need to look for when purchasing granite countertops?

Answer 1

first the only thing that drives the price of granite is how rare it is and how hard it is to get to market.
questions to ask: will all overhangs be rolled,smoothed and sealed,
will countertops be sealed,
will there be steel re-inforcement at the undermount sink,
will seams be off-set from corners (reccomend 2 to 3 inches),
will pattern be butt and pass or flowing,
will they use epoxy at the seams,
will any surface that touchs the stone be sealed with caulk,
will i be allowed to lay my templates out on the stone,
will i have a written warranty upon completion and for how long,
what will be the time between template and installation (should be approx. 7-10 working days,
do they have insurance,
will workers be in house employees(reccomended) or sub contractors (not reccomended),
do they have verifiable references.

hope this helps

Answer 2

I've never purchased nor installed a granite countertop. ...but I would expect that you need to make sure the granite has a smooth finish. The coloration should be fairly even. Also check that it doesn't look "oily". The "oily" look indicates that the granite has been damaged by oils or chemicals which means it was either not properly sealed or didn't have enough sealant. When granite has the "oily" look it will be darker in the "oily" areas. You would also need to look for potential cracks.