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

Definitive Portland Basement Remodel Guide

February 20, 2017

Are you considering finishing a basement to improve your home value, add living space or create an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) for housing-hungry Portland? Check out our definitive Portland basement remodel guide. As a Portland real estate agent, I think it’s a great idea with potential for a positive return on your investment — as long as you can keep the project in a specific budget window, get it properly permitted, and keep resale value in mind. In fact, taking a good hard look at your basement is always a good idea before listing a home in Portland. Don’t worry, this post will help! Belowground Possibilities Here are a few common uses for the space below the main living area of...

Smart Home Remodeling in Portland

October 27, 2016

These days, homeowners doing a remodel prior to listing their home on the Portland real estate market can opt for smart home security systems, sprinklers, thermostats, even light bulbs. A “smart” device” is anything that can be monitored or controlled with a smartphone, tablet or computer. Why would you want to do that? Well, there are a few reasons. Smart Pros and Cons Adding one smart device to your home can be a “give a mouse a cookie” kind of situation. Give a house a smart garage door opener, and it’ll want a smart home security system to go with it! Costs can definitely add up. However, let’s take a look at the benefits: – Smart devices can be controlled...

Improve your Home’s Outdoor Experience

June 30, 2016

Portlanders love the outdoors. When we’re not out hiking or biking – rain or shine! – we like to kick it outside our homes. Now that summer’s here, outdoor spaces are center stage. Whether you’re buying or selling a Portland home this summer, it’s helpful to know a few key differences between the types of outdoor spaces you might find in a typical Portland home. Porches I love homes with porches. They have great curb appeal and buyers can imagine themselves hanging out there. In the winter months, porches are also great to have because by definition, it’s a covered space. Raincoats, umbrellas and boots can all be left there before entering the living space, saving many a mess for...

Portland Home Offices Add Big Value

July 13, 2015

What’s the biggest home-buying trend in Portland this year? The home office! With more and more people working from home — especially in this tech-focused city — a home office of some kind is essential for many home buyers. If you’re selling a home in Portland, your real estate agent has probably already talked to you about the importance of staging your home. Whether you already have a home office or want to show off some extra space as an office, here are some tips to keep in mind: 1. A great office is an asset to your home, but a messy one could be a liability, sending buyers into a fit of anxiety over the work that YOU need...

Boost Portland Home Values with Smart Bathroom Remodels

February 27, 2014

Before listing your home with a Portland real estate agent, you may be looking around at what you can fix up to improve your home’s market value. In my experience, home buyers in Portland are always attracted first to the kitchen and the bathrooms, and these rooms can really be the deciding factors in whether or not they love a home. We blogged about remodeling your kitchen in four easy and budget-friendly steps, so now let’s cover bathrooms. The most important thing to remember in any resale-focused home remodel is to be sure you’ll get a return on your investment. It seems basic but it is the easiest thing to forget in the throes of fixture shopping and bathroom-gutting. By...

Four Steps (Budget-Friendly) Portland Kitchen Remodel

March 12, 2013

Portland home buyers are looking for a home that is unique and stylish while being functional and user-friendly. Nowhere do these qualities stand out more than in the kitchen. If you’re considering selling your home and thinking that the space where the average American family does everything from homework to entertaining could use an upgrade, you’re probably right. How much of an upgrade, though? It helps to have an action plan. Step 1: Prioritize and set a budget. Sure, it would be fun to tear everything out and build a new kitchen, and it would certainly set your home apart from the crowd, but keep cost versus value in mind. If you spend $5,000 remodeling your kitchen, you won’t necessarily...

Heat up your Portland home value with a fireplace or stove

December 12, 2012

In the damp, dark winters that characterize the Portland, Oregon area, there’s nothing quite like a cheery flame to warm your toes. Traditional open fireplaces are attractive but inefficient, and there are many other options for units that put out heat without creating drafts and wide temperature fluctuations. Rustic wood-burning stoves, pellet stoves or modern glass-enclosed gas or electric fireplaces add a comfortable ambiance to your home that can’t be rivaled. They also serve as a living-area centerpiece, an attractive place for the family to gather year-round. If you’re thinking of selling your Portland home down the road, adding a heat-efficient fireplace or stove could pay off in helping potential buyers fall in love with your home. So what are...

Remodeling Tips to Boost Resale Value in Portland

May 11, 2012

Few events can trigger a home remodel like putting your house up for sale. When you look at your place through potential buyers’ eyes, it’s easy to start seeing things that need to be repaired, replaced or updated. Not only that, but in a competitive real estate market like Portland’s, remodels can be an efficient way to draw attention to your home. So where to start? Remodeling to improve resale value is a bit tricky – you need to be sure you’ll get a return on your investment (the time and the money you’ll spend) and you’ll have to do a little guesswork to know what your buyers will like. The best advice we give Portland home sellers who are...