I get called to a lot of kitchens in West Palm where the countertops are fine, the cabinets are fine, but the faucet looks like it was installed during the Clinton administration. It's dripping. The finish is pitting. The sprayer doesn't retract anymore. Or it's just that basic chrome two-handle builder-grade unit that every house in Florida got in the early 2000s.

Here's what most people don't realize: swapping a kitchen faucet is a one-hour job, and the visual difference is dramatic. It's one of the best bang-for-your-buck upgrades in any home.

What $250 Gets You

Starting at $250 Includes labor, supply line connections, and cleanup

My kitchen faucet swap starts at $250. That includes:

  • Removal of your old faucet — including disconnecting supply lines and cleaning up whatever mess is under the sink (and there's always a mess under the sink).
  • Installation of your new faucet — full assembly, mounting, supply line connections, and testing for leaks.
  • New supply lines if needed — the braided stainless ones that won't burst on you at 3am. I always recommend replacing these during a swap.
  • Leak testing — I run the faucet, check every connection, and make sure everything is dry before I pack up.
  • Cleanup — I leave the area cleaner than I found it.

The $250 starting price is for a straightforward swap where the new faucet fits the existing holes in your countertop or sink. If we need a deck plate to cover extra holes, or if there's corroded plumbing underneath that needs attention, I'll let you know before any additional work happens. No surprises.

Choosing the Right Faucet

You buy the faucet, I install it. That way you pick exactly what you want — the finish, the style, the features. Here are the brands I see hold up best in South Florida:

  • Moen — My top recommendation. Great warranty, parts are easy to get, and the Magnetix docking system on their pull-down models actually works. The Moen Arbor and Moen Align are both solid choices in the $180-250 range.
  • Delta — The Touch2O technology (tap the faucet to turn it on) is legitimately useful when your hands are covered in raw chicken. Delta Leland is a classic.
  • Kohler — Higher price point but beautiful designs. The Kohler Simplice is probably the best pull-down faucet on the market if budget allows.
  • Kraus — Great value option. Their commercial-style faucets look high-end for $150-200.

What I'd avoid: anything from a brand you've never heard of on Amazon, especially if it's suspiciously cheap. The cartridge inside a cheap faucet will fail within a year, and good luck getting a replacement part. Spend $150-300 on the faucet itself and you'll have something that lasts 10-15 years.

Single Hole vs. Three Hole

Most modern faucets are designed for a single-hole mount. If your sink or countertop has three holes (one for the faucet, one for hot handle, one for cold handle), don't panic. Almost every single-hole faucet comes with a deck plate — a flat cover that goes over the extra holes and gives you a clean look.

If your sink has three holes and you want to use them, there are still plenty of two-handle or bridge-style faucets that look incredible. Bridge faucets especially are making a comeback in the higher-end Northwood renovations I've been working on.

The Before and After Effect

I'm not exaggerating when I say a faucet swap can change how the entire kitchen feels. Here's why:

  • It's the focal point. The faucet sits at the center of the countertop, right at eye level when you're standing at the sink. A modern matte black or brushed gold faucet on a white countertop? That pops.
  • It's what you touch. A smooth, weighted pull-down sprayer feels luxurious compared to a stiff old faucet with a separate sprayer hose that barely reaches the other side of the sink.
  • It signals quality. If you're selling or renting, buyers and tenants notice the fixtures. A cheap faucet tells them you cut corners. A quality faucet tells them the home has been cared for.

For Rental Properties and Airbnbs

If you're setting up a short-term rental, the kitchen faucet matters more than you think. Guests use it constantly, and they notice when it feels cheap or looks dated. A $200 faucet with a proper pull-down sprayer is an investment that pays for itself in review scores.

I do a lot of STR buildouts around West Palm, and the kitchen faucet is always on my checklist. It's a small line item in the overall budget, but it has an outsized impact on the guest experience.

Stack It With Other Jobs

A faucet swap pairs perfectly with other kitchen updates: under-cabinet lighting, a new garbage disposal, USB-C outlets on the backsplash, or swapping out cabinet hardware. If you've got a list of small kitchen improvements, book a Project Day and we'll knock them all out at once.