So many of us are planning work on our homes right now. Ensuring you make the right contractor hiring decision is essential right now. And if you think it’s just about making sure they do quality work, that is only part of it. I shared some tips. with Kara Mack from Afternoon Live about what to consider and look out for. See the full 7 minute interview here
Great Contractors
Have great reputations
Stand behind their work when problems show up- and people rave about them. DON’T just look at online reviews- businesses tend to ask for reviews from clients when things go well, not when they don’t
Reliable
** Bad contractors tend talk about themselves more than others talk about them
Organized and good with the basics
Have a schedule, and communicate when they will be able to do the work
Do what they say they are going to do, including show up for the estimate on time, and get you an estimate when they say they will.
May have an office person who keeps track of the schedule and communicates all necessary information.
** Bad contractors aren’t great at following through on the basics
Experts and resourceful
Listen to you, meet you where you are, and present curiosity and interest in your project
Do not treat your project like its just like all of the rest
Willing to share why they recommend an approach or certain products
Tailor their proposal to your interests, and not just what they are used to doing
** Bad contractors have a blanket approach based on what they usually do
One more tip: The clearer you are on the scope of work, and confidence you present that the project WILL be happen, the more interested contractors will be in working with you.
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Outdated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
In a true testament to the fast paced market we’re seeing in Portland right now, I’m so excited to say my client’s condo was listed and sold in under a month! It’s located in SE Portland, close to Downtown. The Buckman Neighborhood is full of lovely cafes, restaurants, and shops.Open and full of light, this condo boasts an efficient and well designed contemporary floor-plan. My clients loved their back patio as a place to relax. Now the new owners can enjoy the budding days of Spring from there. Congratulations to my clients on their sale! We blinked and it was over, but I’ve been so happy to work with you. Best of luck on the next chapter!
I talked with Kara Mack on Afternoon Live today about the importance of professionally staging houses before selling them. Even when the feeling is everything will sell no matter what because of the low housing inventory, staging will draw in more interest, and get more return on your investment.
To get all of the tips, check out my 6 minute interview with Kara here
Here are some of the highlights:
* Designed by experts, a staged house will look better than most buyers will decorate or furnish it themselves
* Staging showcases how to functionally use awkward spaces and rooms
* Buyers will be taken over by their great experience being in a staged house, and not be looking for what’s not right with the place.
Before and After Staging Before and After Staging Bedroom Before and After Staging Small House
Staging is one of the four tips I give to sell your house faster and for more money. Check out the other three here
Portland’s Concordia neighborhood, situated north of Alameda and Beaumont-Wilshire, is one of the most desirable boroughs in the city’s Northeast quadrant. This rapidly growing area earned its name from Concordia University, a private liberal arts school located in the heart of the district. With nearly 3,800 households and an occupancy rate of 96%, Concordia is home to approximately 10,000 residents. As of 2019, Portland Monthly calculates the average home sale price at $535,783, which has increased from $518,304 since 2018.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT CONCORDIA
Portland’s Concordia neighborhood experienced a significant growth spurt in the 19th century after the devastating Vanport flood displaced 17,500 inhabitants. In the following decades, Portland’s Concordia neighborhood became one of most diverse and creative boroughs city-wide, serving as a hub for local artists. This history continues to have a major influence on the area, as Alberta Street remains one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Earning a Walk Score of 76, residents of the Concordia neighborhood area can walk to an average of seven eateries and bars within five minutes.
Curious about life in Portland’s Concordia neighborhood? Get in touch with us!
About Us: Over the course of their professional partnership, Aryne + Dulcinea have helped over 200 clients prosper in their new lives. During this time, they have prided themselves in their top-notch selling abilities, with homes outperforming market standards, consistently exceeding list price while most of their listings sell in under 7 days. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Aryne & Dulcinea will work in collaboration to guide you in investing in your future and reaching your real estate goals.
The C-word is showing up in more real estate conversations lately. Well actually a few c-words: Cooling. Creative. CONTINGENT.
Yes, the hot seller’s market is now cooler. Higher interest rates and feelings of market uncertainty have contributed to a slower real estate market, and it’s time to adjust expectations. Buyers have the luxury of getting a little more creative with their offers, like including contingencies, and sellers may find themselves needing to be just as creative when marketing their properties. Let’s look at this from a couple of perspectives.
Sellers: Time to start getting creative. We’re moving into a more balanced market. There are more houses for sale, which means buyers have more choices and they feel they have more time to find the perfect match. The days of selling your house for cash in 24 hours with 10 offers are gone for now.
Make sure you’re working with an experienced agent who knows your neighborhood, and can offer an educated perspetive on what to expect in the coming months. This will help appropriately price and market your house, and it will sell more quickly. If you get one, consider looking at those contingent offers. Keep in mind many of those buyers are also motivated sellers themselves. Have your agent find out if the buyers want to buy your house as much as you want to sell it, first. If you go this route, have some patience. To get the highest price and best terms in this scenario, you’ll likely need to wait it out a couple of months for them to sell their house first.
Buyers: You can get creative too! Need to sell your house before buying? Include that contingency in your offer or ask for an extended close period. Even ask for what you want, what you really, really want. Maybe after seeing many houses you’ve found your 95% dream home. Consider asking the seller to make some concessions so you can afford to make those improvements right away, or even ask if they’ll make those improvements before it closes. It can’t hurt to ask, especially if your offer is the only one on the table.
This scenario played out on a house I sold last week. The buyers found their almost perfect home that these sellers had just remodeled. But, it was missing a few things (or rooms) to work well for their family. What sealed the deal? The extra bathroom and finished living space the buyers asked to be constructed in the the basement prior to close. Not only did the sellers come through on their wish list, this sale was contingent on the buyers house selling, too. Are you still following? So why would these sellers do that? First, they remodel houses for a living so it was in their wheelhouse. Second, the buyers were willing to hand their earnest money over to the sellers before closing so they could make these personalized updates for them. Cool clients, contingent closings, creative considerations. All c-words on this one.
The market is changing. If you’re actively in it, you know that. Selling right now? Work with your agent to ensure you’re competitive and make sure they’re working creatively to get your house sold. If you’re buying, don’t pass up that 95% dream home. Just ask for what you want. The sellers will be glad you put a thoughtful offer together.
Bobby Curtis Principal Broker Licensed in Oregon Licensed Contractor CCB# 215071 503-502-3066
