Remodeling to Increase Home Value

If you’re considering selling a home in the next twelve months, we’d love to come out and tour your home. I find it has been a regular part of my real estate practice to advise homeowners on what to improve (or not to improve) prior to going on the real estate market. We can help advise on what remodeling choices would result in the highest return on investment.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in the next twelve months, Stephen would love to tour your home. 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 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...

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...

Top 3 Exterior Paint Colors to Boost Home Value in 2020

May 22, 2020

Repainting a home before you sell is always a good idea, especially if it’s been more than five years since the last paint job. A fresh coat of exterior paint is an immediate facelift, a signal to buyers that the home is cared for and move-in ready.  This year, Portland home buyers are going back to the basics, gravitating toward homes that look inviting, cozy and classic. Check out the top three real estate-agent approved colors to paint your home before you sell. Our Top Three House Colors for 2020 1. Creamy Mushroom by Behr When to use it: Contemporary-style homes, ranch houses, traditional-looking homes What it is: Most people know this color as “greige”, but we like “creamy mushroom”...

Portland Landscaping Tips to Increase Home Value 2020

May 18, 2020

Whether you’re hoping to build home value long-term or are selling this summer and want to maximize curb appeal, landscaping is critical. This time of year is when Portland yards, gardens and outdoor play/relax areas really shine. There’s so much potential here to impress and win over home buyers that we’re going to have a hard time fitting it all into one blog article — but we will do our best! Landscaping to Boost Curb Appeal: Sell Your Home for More this Summer Study after study shows that curb appeal has a direct impact on home value: a 7-14% increase in sales price was recently reported by realtor.com.  We also know that landscaping is a major component of curb appeal....

5 Portland Bathroom Remodel Ideas – Increase Home Value

April 24, 2020

Did you know? Portland home buyers love a remodeled bathroom! It’s true — according to Remodeling’s Magazine’s 2020 Cost vs. Value Report, Portland home owners received 10% more return on investment for a midrange bathroom remodel than the national average.  Bathrooms offer great homeowner value because they’re a room in the house that we use every day. (Especially in the COVID 19 days right!) We go there to relax, rejuvenate and sometimes just to get away. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at just how much value a remodeled bathroom can contribute to your typical Portland home, and provide some Realtor approved improvement ideas! The Value of Bathroom Remodels The first thing to keep in mind about bathroom...

Best DIY Kitchen Cabinet Ideas – Improve Home Value in 2020

February 3, 2020

Update, Don’t Replace Cabinets Buyers are serious about wanting fresh kitchen cabinets in their home. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2020 Cost vs. Value report, a minor kitchen remodel — new cabinets plus appliances, flooring and paint job — will offer a higher return on investment than major kitchen renovations, and buyers in Portland are especially likely to pay top dollar. Although one Houzz.com study found that 3 out of 4 kitchen remodelers opt for full cabinet replacement, this investment is unlikely to pay for itself when the home goes up for sale. In this article, we’ll focus on updates to existing kitchen cabinets that will give the whole room a fresh look.  How much to spend on kitchen cabinets for...

Top Home Colors and Trends – Portland Real Estate 2019

November 1, 2019

Color, materials, placement: Whether you just purchased your Portland home or are staging to sell a home in the Portland real estate market, the fresh look you’re seeking is possible with some know-how and inspiration.  Read on for our top Portland real estate agent tips for designing and decorating your interior space this year.  In Portland, should you go Minimalist or Maximalist? For the past several years, the “look” has been all about clean lines and grey or neutral tones. Inspired by Scandinavian design, people went overboard with whitewash and grey, accented by copper furnishings and fixtures in pointy geometric shapes.  Now, the decor trend is moving away from such minimalism toward “maximalism” — think rich colors, mixed patterns and...

Top 5 Front Door Colors to Sell Your Home in 2020

October 28, 2019

We’re not exaggerating when we say that home buyers really, really love a freshly painted front door. In fact, a recent study by Zillow found that this one upgrade can add thousands to the final sales price of a home.  But what color to choose? Popularity matters, but so does matching with the paint scheme and style of the home. Keep this in mind as you read through our top real estate agent picks for front door colors that make Portland buyers say “Wow!” #5 Top Door Color: Natural wood Portland has so many lovely craftsman style homes and bungalows that do well with an unpainted, stained-wood door. Wood has a neutral brown color that exudes comfort and warmth. It pairs...

Home Improvements that Lower your Home Value

September 9, 2019

Redecorating? Installing new kitchen countertops? Thinking of adding a pool? Not all home improvements in the Portland real estate market increase your home’s value. Consider the following: The average homeowner hangs on to their home about 10 years. When it comes time to sell, some improvements done in that time will retain value, but others will actually detract from it. Our team of top real estate agents came up with a list of eight ways that home improvements could send buyers running (or cause them to submit a lower offer).  Neglecting accessibility. Let’s face it: Portland home buyers are aging. Many baby boomers are now empty-nesters, and they want to downsize and/or retire in Portland. But giving up square footage...