Let me start with this: You don’t need a perfect house to get a great sale.
What you do need is a clear sense of what buyers actually care about — and what they really don’t. Because I’ve been doing this long enough to know that a brand-new fridge doesn’t sell a house. But a room that feels like sunshine at 3 pm? That sticks.
If you’re thinking about selling in Portland — whether your home is lovingly maintained, wildly quirky, or a little of both — here’s what buyers are paying attention to in 2025. Especially the ones who are ready to write serious offers. And not just in theory — I’m talking about the conversations I have in real time while walking through homes with real people, every single week.
These aren’t “upgrades.” These are green flags.
1. A Layout That Just… Works
Here’s the truth: layout is one of the few things buyers can’t change without a sledgehammer and a very big budget. So when it works, it REALLY works.
That doesn’t mean your house needs to be open-concept everything or have some picture-perfect HGTV floorplan. But it does mean the space needs to feel intuitive — like it makes sense to live in. When buyers walk through, they’re mentally moving in. If they find themselves confused (“Wait… why is this bedroom off the kitchen?”), that mental move-in screeches to a halt.
A great layout is invisible. A bad layout is unforgettable — in the worst way.
The good news? Many layouts do work — they just need a little help showing it off. That’s where staging, lighting, and flow come in.
We’re looking for:
- Bedrooms that feel tucked away, not tacked on
- A kitchen that connects to the life of the house (even if it’s cozy!)
- Common areas that feel open, but not cavernous
It’s not about judgment — it’s about making it easy for buyers to imagine themselves living there. If your layout already supports that, great. If it’s a little quirky, we’ll guide the experience to help buyers see the charm and potential. Because layout doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to make sense.
2. A Location That Feels Like Life, Not Just an Address
Portland buyers — especially post-2020 — are no longer just saying, “I need a house.” They’re saying, “I need a life that feels good.” That means location is back on top.
The minute we pull up to a house in Laurelhurst or Eastmoreland or Irvington, buyers are already halfway in love. Proximity to parks, cafés, tree-lined streets, a sense of vibe — it all matters. Buyers in those neighborhoods are already pre-warmed.
A few years ago, buyers were willing to compromise on location to get something bigger or shinier. Now? They’re not budging. The energy of the neighborhood, the walkability, the way the house sits on the block — it’s all part of the purchase.
Buyers aren’t just buying your house. They’re buying your block. So in the selling process, we showcase the whole package. If your house is in a good location, you’re already holding one of the biggest cards in the deck.
And if you’re not in those zip codes? Location still matters — and we highlight your version of it. Maybe it’s a killer backyard, proximity to forest trails, or an incredible view of the sunrise from your porch. We find the lifestyle story and lead with that.
(PS: Location is key for buyers with pets. Want to make your home extra pet-attractive? Check out Sniffing Out the Perfect Home for Your Dog to know what buyers are looking for.)
3. Original Charm (Preserved or Thoughtfully Reimagined)
This is big. Buyers in Portland want homes with soul. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve walked into a beautifully updated house only to have a client whisper, “It feels a little… generic.”
That’s because in places like Alameda or Irvington, we’re dealing with homes that were built with character: leaded glass, wood paneling, built-ins, archways, picture rails. These details matter.
Buyers don’t expect everything to be original, but when things have been swapped out, they want it done with intention. For example:
- Original wood floors (or at least refinished, not vinyl’d over)
- Thoughtful light fixtures that feel era-appropriate
- Doors that don’t look like they came from a fast build in a subdivision
- Built-ins that haven’t been ripped out for open shelves
That said, buyers are open to updates — they just want them done with intention. You don’t need to have “preserved everything,” but if you’ve modernized, it helps to have done it with style that nods to the home’s original charm. The homes that sell fastest (and highest) are the ones where buyers walk in and say, “This house still knows who it is.”
4. A Real Primary Suite (Not an Afterthought)
There’s a moment during showings — every time — where we walk into what’s clearly the main bedroom and my buyer turns to me and says, “Wait…if only there was a bathroom?” That moment matters.
At a certain point in a buyer’s journey, a legit primary suite isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s expected. It doesn’t need to be spa-level, but it needs to feel like an intentional adult space:
- Private, attached bathroom
- Closet space that isn’t a sad wire rack situation
- Bonus if it’s separated from the other bedrooms
That doesn’t mean you should run out and build one — these things cost money and don’t always offer a dollar-for-dollar return — but if you have one, we’re leaning into it. Hard.
We’ll style it, light it, and talk about it like it’s a feature, because for buyers? It is. But if your house doesn’t have that? You’re not out of the running. It’s more about how the space feels than ticking a specific box. We can style your primary to feel like a sanctuary — and that impression can be just as powerful as the real thing.
5. A House That’s Been Cared For
The single biggest turnoff for buyers in 2025? A house that looks good in photos but falls apart on inspection. You’d be amazed how quickly buyers can sense when a house has been cared for.
Even in higher price brackets, buyers are cautious. They don’t want to spend their first six months replacing systems or negotiating credits.
Here’s what they do want:
- A roof that isn’t ancient
- Gutters that aren’t hanging off the house
- Crawlspaces that aren’t horrifying
- HVAC that works and doesn’t sound like a haunted dryer
- Plumbing that isn’t actively rebelling
Even in seven-figure listings, buyers will walk away if they sense deferred maintenance — or worse, a cover-up job. You don’t need perfection, but you do need honesty.
If your house has quirks, cool. So does every home in Portland. What buyers want to know is: have you taken care of it? And if you have, we’ll make sure they know — loud and clear.
The Bottom Line: You Don’t Need a Remodel — You Need a Strategy
Please don’t sink tens of thousands of dollars into “prepping” your house before you talk to someone who actually knows how Portland buyers think.
I’ve had clients repaint an entire interior, and still not get the price they wanted. I’ve also had clients change two light fixtures and rearrange the furniture, and get multiple offers in a weekend.Your house already has value. Let’s figure out how to show it.
