Tag: home renovation

Hello, its Real Estate by Julia!

Posted on by Julia Robertson

Let me re-introduce myself.

Hello, I’m Julia! Real Estate Broker in Oregon, Washington and Utah.

Julia Robertson Realtor Oregon + Washington

I’ve lived in every state along the West coast and across the Rocky Mountains.

I relocated to Oregon the summer of 2006, where I immersed into the beautiful and weird city of Eugene. My business as a furniture sales rep drove me to every corner of Oregon and Southwest Washington. I found myself in Portland a few years later, where I lived in Happy Valley, Vancouver, Sellwood, and Milwaukie. Meanwhile I began selling Real Estate in late 2012; with my background in sales, marketing, and interior design, this was a natural fit!

Though I spend much of my time in the city, I love exploring the outskirts and eventually found myself specializing selling hobby farms along the Washougal River, Oregon City, and Clackamas. I spent many years renovating a 1930’s Tudor on a large property in Milwaukie, where I poured my heart into creating a beautiful home there. I touched every corner of this home, while managing projects and hiring contractors, I became a self taught project manager.

I’ve helped many clients and friends navigate home renovations, identify home improvements, and make design choices.

realestatebyjulia

I spent the past few years exploring Northern Utah, expanding my design skillset and working with a luxury real estate brokerage in a ski town.

My career has been intertwined with real estate and the home furnishings industry. Listing homes and marketing interiors have become my passion for two decades. Helping people discover design opportunities and preparing a home to sell is what I love. I negotiate fierce and fair on behalf of my clients and pride myself in providing my clients the best experience buying or selling a home.

I’m excited to be back with Living Room Realty where I dedicated 6 years building and growing with our real estate community in Portland Metro and SW Washington.

If you’re looking to explore both sides of the river to buy, sell, invest, or rent– I can help. You’ll find me at our downtown Vancouver office or any of our Portland locations. Stay in touch with me on my instagram @realestatebyjulia, where I’ll be sharing all things real estate, food & fun, and hosting upcoming classes and events.

Cheers,

Julia Robertson, Realtor | Oregon, Washington, & Utah

Living Room Realty

541-505-1111 | @realestatebyjulia

House Hacking in Portland: How Jason Found His Perfect Investment Home

Posted on by Will Sing

Let me share with you a heartwarming story from my recent adventure as a buyer agent, helping out my client, Jason, in the vibrant and competitive Portland real estate market.

The Quest for the Perfect Investment Property

Jason had a clear vision: find an investment property under $400k where he could not only live but also house hack. Now, you might be wondering, what is house hacking? It’s a savvy strategy where you live in one of the multiple units of your property and rent out the others, effectively reducing or even eliminating your housing costs. In Jason’s case, we were finding a single-family home for him to rent out multiple rooms.

In the bustling Portland market, finding a home in this price range meant facing stiff competition. But Jason had a secret weapon – his background in construction. He was ready and willing to roll up his sleeves and turn a fixer-upper into a dream home.

The Hunt and the Happy Find in North Portland

Our journey took us all around Portland, putting in several offers, and keeping our spirits high. Jason’s patience and determination paid off when we found “the one” in North Portland. Despite competing against four other offers, we came out on top, a testament to Jason’s vision and our strategic approach.

Navigating the Transaction with Expertise

Entering the transaction phase, we discovered a few hiccups — issues with the home that needed addressing. But guess what? They were manageable, and we tackled them head-on. From getting the seller to decommission an oil tank found during inspections to negotiating a sweet deal where the seller covered a whopping 11k in closing costs, plus adding a home warranty for that extra peace of mind.

A Happy Ending and a New Beginning

Fast forward to a month later, and we were at the closing table, all smiles and ready for Jason to start his new chapter. Now, with keys in hand, he’s busy adding not one but potentially two additional bedrooms, a move that could skyrocket the home’s value by over $50k.

Here is what Jason had to say about the Experience:

Will went above and beyond to help me find the right home for my budget. The home search, buying, and closing process was executed perfectly. I am confident that Will’s personality, local knowledge, and understanding of the client’s needs would be a perfect fit for anyone looking to purchase property. He went above and beyond gathering repair quotes from multiple contractors, negotiating closing credit, and handling the coordination between my lender, escrow, and my self. I will defiantly be reaching out to Will in the future for my next property purchase.

Ready to take the next step in your home-buying journey?

Feel free to reach out to me for personalized guidance and expertise. Whether you have questions or are ready to find your dream home in Portland, I am here to assist you every step of the way.

📞 Call Now – 503-303-0822

📧 Email Me – hello@agentlivinginpdx.com

Your House: Love It? Or List It?

Posted on by Living Room Realty

I’m sure you’ve seen that TV show- where a family has totally outgrown their space but one of the partners just doesn’t want to leave, so they decide to renovate. 

And if the renovations aren’t fixing the issue, then, and only then, do they move…

While reality TV is fun to watch, the reality of living in a construction zone while shopping for a new house isn’t.

That’s why I recommend doing one or the other. Let’s break it down.

A lot of times, people get frustrated with their space. They’ve had another baby, fallen out of love with their condo, or started dreaming of retiring in a smaller space near the beach. 

Whatever the reason, it’s very important to first identify WHY you are considering a move, and then go from there.  

Here are five things to think about…

#1 Can it be fixed easily? 

If you want an updated kitchen, swapping out fixtures, painting cabinets, and buying new appliances is a pretty easy fix. But if you want a bigger kitchen, you’re going to have to move.

#2 Can you deal with contractors?

Hiring an interior designer or general contractor to manage your project will help, but renovations require you to work with multiple companies and contractors on a daily basis. And you’ll be totally dependent on their timeline, expertise, and quality of work. If you don’t want people coming in and out of your home for weeks on end, it may be time to move into a turn-key home.

#3 Can you live with the mess? 

Renovations can be dusty and dirty and shrink an already hard-to-navigate environment. Tools will be everywhere, equipment will be everywhere, and people will be everywhere. Is a renovation going to get in the way of school, work, or travel? If so, something turnkey may be more appealing.

#4 Can you tolerate a move? 

You may dread the thought of having to pack up your entire home while paying a moving company thousands of dollars to pick up your heirloom armoire and try and make it through the front door. If this sounds unbearable to you, it may be cause to stay.

#5 Do you love your location? 

If the view, zoning, corner lot, or amazing neighbors are the reason why you moved to your current house to begin with, then moving may not be the answer. In this case, it would be better to renovate the inside of the home to match the amazing benefits of the outside of the home. 

No matter what you decide, it’s important to have a good Realtor to help you understand how renovations will affect your home value and help you decide if you’re better off packing up or staying put. That’s where I can help.

Contact me if you’re trying to navigate the choices or are looking to buy a new house. I’d be happy to help!

Just Listed: Remodeled Dolph Park Gem

Posted on by Erika George & Kari McGee

 

Thoughtfully renovated bungalow with modern floor plan and high-end finishes and fixtures.  Light filled entry and living room opens to dining room and gourmet chef’s kitchen. Main floor also includes a family room, a bedroom/bathroom combo and laundry to accommodate one level living. Spacious primary suite on second floor with deluxe bathroom and beautiful built-in storage. Fully finished lower-level studio offers great flexibility for bedroom suite or media/guest room combo and boasts storage galore — ideal for inter-generational living!  Fully fenced private back yard with sweet patio.  New windows, paint, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, insulation, seismic and sewer. Perfect Dolph Park street —close to schools, shops, restaurants and parks!

Offered at $880,000

Her First Home Renovation

Posted on by Bobby Curtis

I Want to Fix Up an Old House

Tasa first reached out to me in 2018. She had seen some of the work I’ve done, and expressed a deep interest to buy and renovate a house. She also “warned me” she had no home renovation experience outside of her own, but as a professional home stager, she had design sense.  Had work was second nature to Tasa, and that she had a successful janitorial business for over 20 years helped.

That said, we started off on the journey to get Tasa ready to take on a renovation project. From finding a funding source, to vetting contractors, we went through many of the ins and outs of house flipping.

The Modern Kenton Ranch

Nine months later we found this sweet Portland ranch in the Kenton neighborhood. Because she was skeptical at first, Tasa passed it up. While it was a smaller size house, which was appropriate for her first project, it was still in pretty rough shape. It was certainly rougher than what she was looking for. After weeks of searching, I asked her if she would reconsider the Kenton house. We went back for another look, and something changed. All of a sudden she was ready to go, and this time around Tasa knew this was the renovation for her.

And so it was.  We wrote that offer. Her offer was the only one, and the sellers accepted. While I knew she had it in her, I was impressed every step of the way. Her quality job and dedication was distinct, and she spent almost everyday at the house until the renovation was complete, including her birthday. She expressed to me that taking this leap was something she had talked about for 10 years. I’m very proud, and it’s been a privilege to work with her. It’s not a surprise that she’s already onto her next renovation. That one will be coming soon in Milwaukie, Oregon.

 

 

 

Interested in other home renovations, check out this Portland Farmhouse I restored in the Montavilla neighborhood here.

Bobby Curtis
Principle Broker
Licensed in Oregon
Licensed Contractor
CCB# 215071
503-502-3066

Make it your own, N Portland

Posted on by Carson Mead

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Brian and Bianca on the purchase of their new home in St. John’s. We toured throughout the city to find a home that would be a great fit for them with a budget in the low 300K’s. They didn’t need a lot of space, and were focused on finding a 2 bedroom home in good condition, with a great yard for their puppers. After touring different neighborhoods, they kept coming back to St. John’s as being the area that felt like home to them.

We found this great little house that had been rehabbed on the exterior. The inside had newer carpet put in, and some paint– aka light cosmetics, but the exterior had a new roof, siding, paint, and windows. They loved the original details of the house, including the 10 ft ceilings inside which made the home feel larger. They also love a project, and wanted to make it their own with the interior design. With the shell of the house ready to go, they were really excited to be able to put their personal stamp on it. We did all the inspections, and were able to negotiate a new sewer line, as well as a new furnace.

I’m so excited to see what Brian and Bianca do with their renovation, and for them to be in their preferred neighborhood with such a solid home.

I’m always happy to have coffee/tea or a drink and talk about what’s important to you in your purchase! Please reach out and be in touch.

Do’s and Don’ts of hiring a contractor Part 1

Posted on by Julia Robertson

Hiring a contractor: 101. Learning from my personal success and failures working with contractors.

First I’d like to say, when you hire the right contractor- your project will be so much easier to deal with. When you hire the wrong contractor- get ready for a long, stressful, expensive process. When we started our renovation in 2015, many of the bids we received were from contractors referred to me within our broker network(other real estate agents that I know). Other contractors I hired were from “Thumbtack” or personally referred. If you have a large project, having the right mindset is #1! You can’t be passive, you must be deliberate. Here are some basic do’s & don’ts. I’m happy to share my experience with you, to guide you in the right direction. Feel free to reach out if you’re curious about the process.

  1. Do include a design plan in your budget. Having a plan is worth the extra couple hundred/thousand dollars.
  2. Do have a design plan before getting a bid with your general contractor.
  3. Do get multiple bids. Second phase of our attic/master bedroom renovation, we got 6 bids.
  4. Do ask for past client references. We are very happy with our contractor that we had a personal referral from. When I say personal, I mean- a past client that personally shared their experience with you. Hiring a contractor for a job because you like their work, “hear good things”, or another REALTOR® used them to fix something on a repair addendum- is NOT the same.
  5.  Do plan for your project to take longer than expected.
  6. Do read your contract thoroughly and look at how the contractor expects to be paid.. Biggest mistake we made with one of our contractors is not reading this fine print. We were so eager to negotiate price, that we missed our contract stated- “50% payment due 30 days after project begins…” This landscaper only worked 5 days in the first month because his crew quit and weather delays. This was a stupid oversight on our part. So many decisions are being made, it’s easy to miss something. Best situation for us was paying our contractor by cost plus. He pays all the sub-contractors directly, emails us all the invoices, then we pay him about 30 days after the work is complete. Then he takes an overall percentage for managing/cleaning/communicating the jobs.
  7. Do pop in and check on your project and ask questions. I can’t even count how many times our landscaping contractor had to re-do parts of our project. If we had brought up our questions sooner, the project would have been finished 3 months sooner and cost several thousand less $$.
  8. Do tell your contractor that you want weekly updates.
  9. Do make sure EVERYTHING you discuss is in writing. Ask to update your contract if there is a change order to remove or add a part to your project.
  10. Don’t make your final payment until you are completely satisfied. I’ve made this mistake twice! Trust me, they’ll never come back to fix those final things if you’ve already paid them.

If you’re having thoughts about buying, selling, or renovating- give me a call! I’d love to be your guide through the process. Watch for part II of hiring a contractor!

Julia Robertson

Broker licensed in Oregon & Washington | Living Room Realty

541-505-1111 | julia@rebyjulia.com

The “Money Pit”

 

Stellar Richmond Renovation

Posted on by Karim Alaeddine

2910 SE 43rd Ave | Portland, OR 97206

Offered at $650,000

4 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 2,026 SF | Detached Garage

Stellar Richmond Renovation ~ An exquisite, whole house remodel in one of Southeast Portland’s sweetest neighborhoods. 4 spacious bedrooms, 2 gorgeous bathrooms, custom kitchen with rift-sawn oak cabs, concrete counters, breakfast bar and open eating area. Family room with 2nd fireplace, private deck and patio. Mid century moldings and built-ins. Ample storage, detached garage & all whole house systems totally replaced. Incredible light, corner lot, HES score of 10.

For a Slideshow to all the Photos click HERE

Badass Buyers Club

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Badass Buyers Club

Leilani & Evan hit the jackpot!  Their path towards Chip & Joanna Gaines status is in motion as they receive keys to their first home and biggest investment.

After following my famed (okay not so famous) ig account @pdx_meg, Leilani contacted me to find out how they too can become part of the badass buyers club.  Like a lot of my first time buyer clients this past year, Leilani & Evan paid $0 closing costs!  They found this gem of a 1960’s ranch and we quickly put together their winning offer package which beat out 8 others!

On top of saving about $10,000 in out of pocket closing costs, they were able to effectively and happily work with the sellers on all other aspects of negotiations.  This is a huge deal especially when buying your first property.

 

What are they up to now?  I’ll make a few periodic updates to their story as they tackle their first renovation.  Stay tuned for more progress photos and style inspo as they make this house their first home.

Congratulations to the newest members of the badass buyers club!

 

 

 

 

 

503-840-2842

If you’d like help buying, selling, or small space planning, I’d love to be a part of your team too!

 

To Flip or NOT to Flip

Posted on by Bobby Curtis

That IS the question. It’s always a pleasure to join Tra’Renee on Afternoon Live to chat about real estate.

I have been flipping houses, both large and small, since 2010 and have extensive first-hand experience with house restoration. You can find more of my interviews and tips on buying, selling, and flipping a house here.

This week I answered common questions about flipping houses. You’ve seen the TV shows that make flipping seem easy but there’s a lot to consider. If you’re thinking this may be for you, check out my tips and then watch this clip to arm yourself with all the facts before you dive into your next home restoration project.

Before you quit your job and start flipping houses, here are my Top Four tips:

1. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

2. Lower your risks by becoming or hiring a professional.

3. Have a budget and stick to it.

4. Be flexible because you never know what might come up once you’re in contract to sell that house.

Check out Afternoon Live, where I’m on once a month for more advice and guidance on Portland real estate. And click here to learn about 5 mistakes to avoid before flipping your first house.

Bobby Curtis
Principle Broker
Licensed in Oregon
Licensed Contractor
CCB# 215071
503-502-3066[/caption]

Contractor Tips For Your Next House Remodel

Posted on by Bobby Curtis

If you’re getting ready to remodel your house, or take on a small house project, here are some of my top tips.

  1. Save money and time without compromising quality.
    Some lighting and bath stores have deeply discounted prices at certain times like Rejuvenation which specializes in new , high quality made to look original lighting. Once/quarter: new stuff sometimes 75% off from returned orders, or overstocked stuff. You can also visit online coupon websites and get a home depot promo code to use on your purchase.
  2. Tile stores like Pratt and Larson, Daltile and others have a formal clearance section. Great quality at deeply discounted prices for returned tile, or leftover boxes from a large order. Deeply discounted and high quality.
  3. There are places around town like The Rebuilding Center in North Portland that have great deals on original kitchen and bath fixtures, windows, and doors that came right out of houses in Portland, often times when houses are getting a make-over. Clawfoot tubs aren’t for everyone, so if someone takes it out, and you’re looking to put one it, you can get it for a great price.
  4. Contractor/Designer Discounts. Places like Lowes, HD, the lighting and tile stores I mentioned earlier, almost all of them offer contractor or designer discounts. If you let them know you restore houses, they will give you a contractor rate. Be sure to ask for it before you make purchases.
  5. Worksite/House Stuff: Bring Donuts and Coffee (especially when there are many contractors in a house at once). Most of these guys like to work alone, and you’re a savvy house renovator, so you have a timeline to keep and have several of them working at once. Bring donuts, and start the day off with a smile. It goes such a long way.
  6. Work clean- at the end of everyday, make sure the people you are working with pick up after themselves, remove debris, and take their tools and supplies with them. It allows you to see true progress on the house, and not feel like its constantly a wreck.

For more, check out my interview with Kara from KATU here

Bobby Curtis
Principal Broker
Licensed in Oregon
Living Room Realty &
Licensed Contractor
CCB: 215071
503-502-3066