Portland Home Value

We provide complimentary, no obligation home value estimates for any homeowners considering selling their property in the next 12 months. Expert Realtor home valuations always outperform online estimates.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in the next twelve months, Stephen would love to tour your home and provide a pricing estimate. Call today to set an appointment.

Stephen FitzMaurice, Realtor
4% Max. to Sell a Home
Cancel Anytime Policy
Licensed Since 2003
503-714-1111

Top 5 Front Door Colors to Sell your Home 2022

September 20, 2021

First impressions matter, so if you want to hook potential buyers with the ultimate curb appeal, consider refreshing your home’s front door color. It’s a small investment that can reap quicker sales and put thousands more in your pocket at closing, according to a recent study by Zillow. Our top 5 front door choices for 2022 combines the Zillow study, recent colors of the year awards, and research into popular exterior colors. Keeping in mind factors like trends, style of home, and geographical location will go a long way in helping you choose the perfect color. Which of our following top five front door color picks will make people want to step inside your home and take a look around?...

10 Landscaping Tips to Increase Home Value in 2021

May 17, 2021

Landscaping: it’s an art form, one that can be hard to wrap your head around. That’s because, like all art forms, landscaping adds value to which it’s hard to assign a strict dollar amount. We’re talking about atmosphere, comfort, and that ineffable something that makes a space feel welcoming. But, also like all art forms, we can discuss its value because history shows that people will pay for that ineffable something! In 2020, the National Association of Realtors reported that homes with high curb appeal sold on average for 7% more than comparable homes with low curb appeal. Effective landscaping frames the home and gives the impression of a well-kept property. So just like choosing the right paint color or...

Top 3 Exterior Paint Colors to Increase Home Value in 2021

May 14, 2021

A fresh coat of paint can work wonders – especially when you’re selling your home. We hear the word curb appeal casually thrown around quite a bit, but the term is rooted in reality. Prospective buyers are more likely to tour a home that looks more inviting from the outside. And the buck doesn’t stop there. Last year a joint study from the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington found that homes with curb appeal sell at an average of 7% higher than comparable (but less visually appealing) homes. If it’s been more than five years since your last paint job, we recommend you get a fresh coat before listing. But to speak of paint begs...

Top 4 Free Home Value Estimates to Check, Before Selling a Home

April 21, 2021

4. Redfin.com’s Home Value Estimate Redfin.com Statistical Home Value Rating: D On Redfin.com’s home value estimate explanation page they claim to be the most accurate on-market (listed for sale) estimator. This as we’ve already explained in previous articles, is no great trick. Basically the online portal can simply adjust their estimate so it closely aligns with the advertised for sale price tag. Simple, and not helpful. Most homes are still sold by a Realtor in the U.S., a licensed professional who advised the homeowner on setting the list price. Redfin or any other online website taking credit for that is nonsensical. Notice Redfin.com says their off-market home value estimate has an off-market median error rate of 6.94%. Wow. That’s like...

Is the Zillow Zestimate Accurate? 2021 Update

April 19, 2021

We’ve all been there: you get that email from Zillow telling you how much more your home is worth than what you paid for it even a few short years ago. It’s an enticing idea, to think your house has gained so much equity, and that you could profit off of that. And Zillow’s Zestimate tool, which gives you a quick estimate of your home’s value has been around for years. On top of that, the site gets a ton of traffic, and it’s generally a good idea to have your home listed there. So that must mean the Zestimate is pretty reliable, right? Think again. While the Zestimate is undoubtedly tempting, it doesn’t tell the whole story. And Zillow...

Top 5 Home Siding Types & Repair Methods

December 18, 2020

Have you checked your home siding lately? Repairing or replacing siding is a common home maintenance requirement, and something buyers will be looking at when they tour your home. Here’s our guide to the best products and fixes for home siding. Portland’s Top Siding Materials  1. Fiber Cement Sustainable, highly customizable and durable, fiber cement is a very popular siding material among Portland builders and homeowners. Although it ranks among the most expensive for material and installation, low maintenance costs over time can help offset the upfront cost. In addition, return on investment is higher for fiber cement than vinyl, according to Remodeling Magazine. Fiber cement is made from a mixture of wood fiber, sand, clay, and Portland cement, and...

Top Portland Home Design Trends of 2021

October 2, 2020

The pandemic has provided some with the perfect opportunity to rethink their home space. We combed all the best Portland home design blogs and Instagram accounts to bring you this trendsetting city’s seven biggest decor influences for 2020 and into 2021. 1. Lighting gets specific. “We have all been in that Zoom meeting where someone has terrible lighting and they look like that are giving an anonymous witness testimony or live in a yellow covered world,” says Portland designer Kevin Twitty. Let 2020 be the year you perfect your home’s lighting situation (start by learning the difference between watts, lumens and Kelvins). LED is the best, and they cost one-fifth of what they did seven years ago. LED bulbs can...

Home Value Estimates – Online vs. Realtor

July 20, 2020

Online Home Value Estimates are Fast and Hassle Free There is no reason not check your home value online on occasion. In most cases the online value will be in the general range of its real estate market value. However, when you’re getting ready to sell, say anytime in the 12 months prior, you should have a professional, a top real estate agent come out and see your home and give a true value. Online estimates, even in 2020, are not at all close to the actual homes value! See our report on Zillow Zestimates in 2020, and how off they are (and how Zillow cheats to make them look better then they are). While there are more sources for...

Top 5 Roof Repairs: What to look for in 2020

June 22, 2020

Portland is a city with some special challenges for roof maintenance — big trees, a lot of flat roofs and high rainfall. And while roofs are easy to place in the “out of sight, out of mind” category, a compromised roof can compromise the entire structural integrity of the home. Whether you’re shopping for a home or considering putting one on the market, get to know the common roof issues that Portland homeowners experience.   Top 5 Roof Problems for Portland Homes It’s true with most things, but especially with roofs, that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Knowing these five signs of roof trouble could save you big bucks down the road: 1. Missing shingles...

Portland Home’s Values Higher than Owners Think – 2020 Report

June 8, 2020

The common perception of home sellers is that they are al too attached to their homes, and always overestimate value. This is not true! Sellers actually both over-value and under-value their homes depending on market conditions. When the real estate market is stable, sellers tend to estimate their homes value fairly accurately. When the market is dropping fast, sellers tend to lag behind and think their homes are still worth more than they are. When the market is increasing fast, sellers lag behind and often think their home is worth less than it is. Quicken Loans has been putting together a yearly report on the difference between seller estimated value and actual appraisal value and the results are illuminating. Portland...