By Bobby Curtis, May 27, 2021
I talked with Kara Mack on Afternoon Live today about whether people should buy a new house or remodel the one they have. It’s worth diving into a little bit because home prices, building materials, and contractor prices are all up this year. Below are some things to consider. To watch the 5 minute clip, click here
- Get honest about what really doesn’t work about your current house.
- Enough space
- Outdated
- Location
- If a remodel could work, get estimates
- Costs of some building materials have increased exponentially over the past year (lumber)
- Demand for remodel has gone up, contractors are busy, and their time is worth more than a year ago as well.
- Determine a realistic timeline- most materials are coming late.
- Planning to Buy
- Home prices in the Portland area are up 17% from a year ago. For a $500k house, that’s $85k more
- Since 2/3’s of houses sell in the first week, you will have to compete
- You may have to be willing to pay more than the appraiser says it’s worth, so make sure you’re planning to live there for a while
If you decide to remodel your current home, check out some tips on Hiring Great Contractors
Bobby Curtis
Principal Broker | OR
He/Him
Meet Bobby Curtis. Buying agent. Listing agent. Renovator.
A down-to-earth Midwesterner, Bobby graduated from the University of Michigan, and headed to Portland in 2004. He began a career in the pharmaceutical industry focusing on sales, marketing, and consulting. In those five years, he was even lucky enough to roam around Europe for short assignment in Switzerland. When he came back to Portland he took some time to discover what he was really interested in. Homes. More specifically, architecture, restoration, and entrepreneurship. After getting his real estate license in 2011, he purchased his first house in Portland to restore, redesign, then sell. Bobby rolled up his sleeves and started in on what would become his real career interest – transforming distressed houses into stand out homes by discovering the beauty of each unique property. Since that time Bobby has bought and restored several houses each year in Portland, both large and small, with great success. Armed with extensive first-hand knowledge of restoration, Bobby offers his clients an exceptional eye to pinpoint property potential and value. Whether you are searching for a complete fixer property, or a shining, buttoned-up stunner, he is skilled and enjoys guiding clients through the process of finding the perfect place. If you are selling your home or investment property, Bobby showcases his clients homes like he was selling his own. That kind of attention to detail will present all of the property’s best features. It's because he has bought and sold properties of his own each year, that he better understands what it’s like to be in his clients shoes, and to navigate through the current real estate market. As an experienced broker and professional, Bobby is able to negotiate the best price and terms for his clients. If you’re looking to get a sneak peak of Bobby in action, you can watch him on an episode of First Time Flippers on the DIY Network, where he helped his mom flip her first house. Or you can catch him on KATU’s Afternoon Live daytime talk show once a month, discussing Portland Real Estate and House Restoration. Check it out here Contact Bobby at: 503-502-3066 bobby@livingroomre.com Licensed Contractor #215071- T: 503-502-3066
- bobby@livingroomre.com
