When it comes to home updates, fixtures may seem like small details—but they leave a big impression. In Portland’s ever-evolving market, smart upgrades can boost both your everyday enjoyment and long-term resale value. However, before you dive into the latest trends, pause and consider: will this look still feel fresh five years from now? Below,… Continue reading 10 Home Fixture Trends That Won’t Age Well

In Portland, where we celebrate our seasons — yes, even the rainy ones — outdoor spaces can make or break a home’s market appeal. As more buyers prioritize livability and lifestyle in their home search, upgraded backyards are moving to the top of the must‑have list. Whether you’re prepping your home for market or just… Continue reading Backyard Upgrades Buyers Love in Portland

As the real estate market picks up and more homes hit the market, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: well-maintained homes sell faster and at a premium. Yet, many homeowners neglect routine upkeep, unaware that small, inexpensive fixes can turn into costly repairs down the line. The True Cost of Neglect Deferred maintenance doesn’t just… Continue reading The High Cost of Deferred Maintenance: Why Small Fixes Now Save Big Money Later

The concept seems so simple. Buy a house. Do some work. Sell the house. Make some money. Repeat. The devil is in the details. Skip some of the steps and you could find yourself staring into a money pit with no end in site. This will be the first post regarding the matter since there… Continue reading Blood, Tears, and Sweat Equity: The Path to Riches?

In 2001, we decided that we wanted to buy a fixer and flip it (resell it) when we were done. We knew that the properties that we were interested in could not be financed because of their condition. Banks won’t lend on something in critical condition. Our plan was to find a seller that would… Continue reading Paying for the Fixer- Our story

Basements used to be scary places where we crammed all the stuff we couldn’t find a home for in the main living areas. Many are still scary but others have been converted into livable space that rivals the rest of the home in features and quality. Like all successful projects, plan and get a permit.… Continue reading Finished Basements in Portland

In the Portland market, we tend to think of fixers as being in the $200,000 range and under 2000 square feet. The buyers are usually first time homeowners or investors looking to “flip” the property for a profit (note that you have to be a licensed contractor to do this (or at least check with… Continue reading Historic Fixer, Our Future Home

In Portland, most major (and some minor) projects require a permit. Do I need a permit? If you are doing the job yourself or are doing lots of things at once, it may make the most sense to head down to the city and get the permit yourself. On Thursday nights, from 5-7PM, the Bueau… Continue reading A Kinder, Gentler City of Portland Permit Process

Since there were only four of us for Thanksgiving dinner this year, we decided that we’d have dinner out rather than having the traditional dinner and mess to clean up at home. Wildwood is only four blocks from here but fairly heavy rain caused us to climb in the car. Stepping out of the front… Continue reading The Thanksgiving Housebeque

I’m sure I wasn’t the first and I know I wasn’t the last since we just discovered the issue in a house we inspected: install a dryer vent when remodeling! Seems obvious that a laundry facility, a standard washer and dryer requires: A power source for both machines (appropriate electricity and possibly gas). Hot and… Continue reading Real Estate’s Dirty Laundry