We were just in a house on a house tour and the counters were higher than standard...the homeowners are tall folks....

36 inches is pretty standard.

they can be adjusted up or down at installation for particular user heights, but it is liable to be a negative at sales time.

Never plan on selling. I know the key word is "plan." I think maybe I just don't want a super deep sink. I also am thinking if we were ever in a wheelchair we wouldn't want then any higher. I'm trying to use a little universal design in the plan but this is one area I don't plan on doing it. I couldn't live with lower counter tops than 36"

I was just washing dishes and wished it was a few inches higher.
Is it the counter height that is the problem or the sink depth?

the real problem is my awful back! lol the issue in my house is the counter height. My sink isn't that deep but if it was one of those deeper ones i'd really be in trouble.

"I also am thinking if we were ever in a wheelchair we wouldn't want then any higher. "

The problem is the slow progress in things like wheelchairs.

While there are a few that have been made that essentially allow for standing posture, they are few and far between.

A simple adjustable lift system would probbaly be a huge breakthrough.

All our counters are 39" high (bathrooms and kitchen.) We're tall (at 5'11" I'm the shortest in my family), but even our shorter guests really like it. (I think the 36" standard was set a couple of generations ago when people were mostly shorter. Our old master bath had 33" counters which were ridiculous - I felt like I had to bend down to my knees to wash my face.) I used to get a sore back when working in the kitchen a long time when our counters were lower; higher is just more comfortable for me. Added bonus: our cabinets are taller so we get more storage. (They were custom; we didn't just add a taller toe kick or trim under the counter.)

You might want to read up on ergonomics and counter height. There's something about bending your elbow 90 degrees, and a comfortable counter height is a couple inches below that. (Can't remember exactly.) This is tricky of course if your spouse is significantly shorter or taller.

You might want to try using a thick butcher block (or stack a couple) on top of your current counters to see what it's like to work on a taller counter and whether you like it. (In general, more time is spent on meal prep than clean up.) If you live near Chicago, you can come over and make a meal for me... oops I mean come over and see if you like the counter height. :)

Also, you might like higher toilets. We went with Kohler 'comfort height' in our 4 bathrooms on the 1st and 2nd floors. I know that sounds like something for old folks, but they're so much nicer for knees and backs (I run frequently and my knees get crabby.) When I use the guest bath in our basement (regular height toilet) I feel like I'm in preschool.

As for resale: I plan to stay here as long as possible, and I'm not going to worry about the height of future buyers. If my kids are any indication, the next generation will be taller than me anyway. And in this neighborhood, buyers would likely customize anyway, no matter how nice I think my kitchen is. :)

We have lived in two houses with slightly higher than average countertops. They were really unpleasant for me to use because I am only 5'2. When I (rarely) wore heels, I was always surprised by how much better my leverage was when doing prep work.

That being said, I never noticed when I bought the houses, even after being annoyed by the first house for several years! One thing to consider is whether your stove will be adjustable enough to meet the higher height. You also can always use a separate range/wall oven.

It is funny that Chicagoans mentioned toilet height too. Our last house had small/low toilets (chosen by me, not even knowing their could be a height difference-- They just felt comfy). Our current house has a taller, more standard toilet and I also really hate it. It sucks to be sitting on the seat with my feet dangling like a little kid. When we build the new house, I am going to put in one smaller toilet for me and let the rest be taller for average people.

I'm with supergrrl! I'm only 5'1" and HATE "comfort height" toilets and would not buy a house with taller than standard counters. I know I'm not the norm, but if resale is part of your plans, you may be turning off some buyers by changing the standard.