PDX Renovations

Tag: we buy houses

  • The Benefits of Downsizing Your Home

    While bigger is usually better when it comes to your living space, there may come a time in life when you take stock of your home and utter the d-word: downsize. Perhaps it’s that spare room that you haven’t entered in a month that triggers your reaction. Maybe your kids have finally moved out, making the house seem cavernous in their absence. It could be that the hassle of cleaning and maintaining your home has become too much. Or, the expense of living in your current home may prompt a move to someplace more within your budget. Whatever the case, downsizing your home can save you money in a variety of ways – many of which may surprise you. Here are just a few.

    You have less stuff. As with any move, you take an inventory of your belongings, and invariably pare down things you no longer use or need. This simplifies your life, and when you move to a smaller dwelling, you have less space for those frivolous purchases that often end up doing nothing but occupying space.

    Closer quarters = closer family. In a smaller home, the inhabitants are invariably forced to make spend more time together, cooperate and make compromises on space, which fosters a greater sense of togetherness than a home with lots of space where family members can segregate themselves. Downsizing your home can actually bring you closer to your loved ones.

    More quality time. A smaller home means less upkeep and often spending less on utilities and a mortgage, which translates into more time and money to devote to leisure activities that enhance your quality of life, such as traveling and hobbies.

    To be sure, downsizing your home is a major life decision, and one sometimes prompted by circumstance. But it can be an opportunity to streamline your life and eliminate space and possessions you don’t necessarily need.

  • Costly Home Improvement…the real story

    When you decide to sell your home, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is how to fix it up in order to maximize its dollar value. Of course, such an endeavor can encompass a variety of home improvements, from planting new shrubbery to installing new hardwood floors. Whatever the project, expenses can add up — quickly. The general rule of thumb is to only invest in home improvements that will add at least twice their cost to your home’s value. But the reality is, you often don’t get much bang for your buck: the average return on your remodeling investment is usually 20 or 30 percent less than you spend. And that’s to say nothing of the missteps homeowners make in their efforts to ready a home for sale. To wit, here are some common pitfalls homeowners find themselves in when attempting to improve their home for resale:

    -Trying to “add more space,” such as converting a garage into a living room. This can make a space seem incongruous with the rest of the house, and the chances of recouping the cost are minimal.

    -Destroying period details (often unknowingly) that may have real value. Pulling up ‘70s-era carpeting is one thing, but removing a circa-1900 bannister because it is showing wear also removes what many would deem a treasure.

    -The kitchen remodel. As many experts will attest, the kitchen is the single biggest selling point in a home. With that in mind, sellers often go all-in on a kitchen remodel, which can easily run as high as $50,000 or more. Yet, a fully remodeled kitchen usually earns 80 percent of its money back, making it one of the worst investments for home sellers.

    The above doesn’t even take into account the headaches inherent with any major (or minor, for that matter) home improvement project. The inconvenience, delays, threat of budget overruns, and questions of workmanship can all turn the most well-intentioned of projects into much more than you bargained for. When you take a look at the factors involved, it may cause you to think twice before diving into the process of costly repairs and consider selling your home as-is in a fast cash sale.

    Do you have a house, lot or land to sell. Fill out our sell fast form and get a Cash offer within 1 hour of us viewing the property.

  • 5 Signs Renting Your House is Not for You – Sell A Portland House?

    Are you beginning to regret your decision to become a landlord? Should you stick it out, continue to deal with the frustrations or should you sell the house?

     

    The Portland, Oregon and Phoenix, AZ markets have presented a lot of investment opportunities over recent years. Many investors decided to take advantage of below market values by snatching up rental property. Unfortunately, many discovered that this landlord business is not for them. Here are 5 signs that you may not be cut out for renting your house and that you should consider selling your Portland or Phoenix house.

     

    1. 1.    Your Cash Flow Isn’t Cutting It. Rentals can generate income, but they can also demand a lot of attention and a lot of continued investment. It seems like something is always in need of repair. Association dues continue to go up. Extended vacancies mean no money coming in. All this and other issues associated with renting can create a strain on finances and may result in a loss of money, rather than the hoped for gain in monthly income.

     

    1. The Neighborhood is Taking a Turn for the Worse. The housing bubble and the recession put a lot of financial pressure on people in the Portland and Phoenix area. Foreclosures, unemployment, underemployment have all added up to a pretty ugly scene. As a result, many neighborhoods experienced a disproportional drop in value. Vacant homes, the inability to keep up with routine maintenance and an influx of renters have hit some areas hard. If you own in a neighborhood that has seen significant depreciation, you may want to consider selling that Portland or Phoenix house, because it is not going to get any better soon.  It might get worse.

     

    1. You Can’t Wait for the Market to Rebound. If you have investment money tied up in a property that could be making a better return today, consider selling. The value of housing is not expected to return to former levels for another 5—10 years. For investors who were hoping to make a faster return on the property, this length of time is just too long to tie up funds. Selling now can free up equity that can be used for other investments or to cover daily living expenses.

     

    1. You Don’t Have the Time. Renting can be very time consuming. Advertising a property, interviewing applicants, maintaining a property can all demand a considerable amount of time. For a lot of folks, the time requirements are more demanding than they bargained for and may be taking away from quality family time.

     

    1. The Property has Serious Renovation Issues. Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to keep throwing good money at a problem property. Whether due to age, a negligent tenant or natural causes, knowing when to sell and move on can save unnecessary financial pressures.

     

    One way to sell a Portland or Phoenix house quickly and stop the financial bleeding is to sell to an experienced, local real estate investor. You can sell your Portland or Phoenix house quickly for cash with a real estate investor and avoid continued financial stress and strain.

     

    Are you considering selling your Portland or Phoenix house?

     

    Do you have a piece of property (house, lot, or land) you’d like to sell fast?  Fill out our Sell Fast Form and get a cash offer within one hour of us viewing the property.