I have a confession to make: I owned an older Portland home for many years before I felt confident to park in the garage. The small detached garage, facing a narrow alley, seemed like it might be tricky to maneuver a car inside. Years went by, and I used the garage mainly for storing outdoor furniture and garden supplies. It was only when I purchased an electric vehicle that getting the car inside became important to me. Why? EV Charging of course!
My second challenge: the garage had no electricity, and was 30 feet from the house.
For a moment I was unsure of how to begin. However! Having navigated dozens of inspection/repair contingencies, pre-listing home preparations, and unexpected challenges, I knew that the goal of charging my car at home was likely easily achievable.
The Preparation
First, I called an electrician. (If you ever need a referral for a contractor, painter, plumber, roofer, electrician, window person, etc- ask your realtor! We will have suggestions for you.) My licensed and bonded electrician gave me a bid, and explained how the project would work, and to get started, asked me if I knew someone who could dig a trench: of course I did!
Whenever a project requires digging, call before you dig! The utility companies will come out and mark any utility lines on your property. This is a critical step, to prevent digging into a gas, electric, sewer, or water line. Call 811, or 1-800-332-2344 a minimum of two days before starting any digging project. In my case, this are area was free of utility lines.
The Trench
To dig the trench, I hired a trusted landscaper and his team. Although I considered doing it myself, or renting a trench digging machine, letting professionals do it proved to be fast, reasonable, and efficient. It took just a few hours for a few people to dig through the rocky soil by hand, with picks and shovels.
Finally, the Electricity
Once the trench was in place, the electrician returned to install a conduit and the electrical lines. He installed a subpanel in the garage, along with a light (let there be light, for the first time, in my garage: it’s fun to appreciate small things!) and a couple of outlets, including one 240 volt outlet placed to accommodate an EV Charger. I mounted a new EV charger on the wall of the garage, plugged it in, and was all set! It felt like a transformation to be able to not only turn on a light, but also charge my car in the garage.
*in case you notice that the roof of the garage looks rough in the photos, that was the next project!
Ever stroll down 13th avenue in historic Sellwood and think “I’d sure love to live here”? Ever wander past the rows of perfect turn-of-the-century houses, painted out in bright colors and feel painfully covetous? Ever wish you too could own a piece of history, a period-perfect home that lovingly retains its vintage aesthetic? Perhaps you saw Season 8 Episode 5 4:00 of PORTLANDIA (the parallel parking scene) and caught a glimpse of this beauty itself? Well this is your chance to own one of your very own! Right in the heart of Sellwood, amidst the shops and cafes, on a quiet tree-lined street just a block from the library and another two to the park, sits a stylistic example of “Porch-Gable” bungalow design. Featured in Architectural Historian Thomas Hubka’s article “Sellwood’s Boom Era Houses”, 
If you are curious about the market in these times, or are looking at buying or selling now or down the road, I am happy to chat over some socially distanced coffee or tea. Let’s connect!
