The Challenge
Hidden water entry had damaged the siding and trim, the front steps were unsafe and a bedroom window no longer operated. Any buyer inspection would have turned these into price reductions.
BeforeAfterSeattle, WA
Repairing and preserving a 1912 cottage
A 1912 cottage repaired and refreshed so buyers see its character, not its inspection list.
- Property
- Single-Family Home
- Year built
- 1912
- Bed / Bath
- 2 / 1
- Size
- 1,200 sq. ft.
- Timeline
- 10 days
- Status
- Completed
Our Plan
Fix the items an inspector would flag first — envelope, steps and windows — then repaint the exterior and refresh the porch so the cottage’s character leads the listing.
Property Overview
- City
- Seattle, WA
- Property type
- Single-Family Home
- Year built
- 1912
- Beds
- 2
- Baths
- 1
- Sq. ft.
- 1,200
- Occupied / vacant
- Vacant
- Condition before work
- Water-damaged siding, unsafe front steps and windows that needed repair before inspection.
Scope of Work
Exterior
- Siding & trim repair
- Exterior painting
- Window repair
Interior
- Interior touch-up painting
- Stair & railing safety repairs
Curb Appeal
- Porch refresh
- Walkway cleanup
Cleaning
- Final cleaning
Timeline & Investment
StartMay 12, 2025
CompletionMay 21, 2025
Total days10
Total investment$24,500
Budget breakdown
- Siding & trim
- $9,000
- Exterior paint
- $8,000
- Windows
- $3,500
- Porch & steps
- $4,000
What We Improved
BeforeAfterHome office
Painted shiplap, new windows and flooring in the same room.
BeforeAfterBack room
Repainted walls, a replaced window and clean finishes.
BeforeAfterFront porch
Porch rebuilt with new siding, posts and entry door.
Sale Result & ROI
Estimated as-is value$640K
Pre-sale investment$24.5K
Sold for$715K
Estimated ROI206%*
- Listed for $699K
- Days on market 6 days
- Estimated value added $75K
*Estimated ROI. Sale results also depend on market conditions, pricing, location, marketing and agent performance.
Final Result
The cottage passed pre-listing inspection with no major findings and presented as a cared-for historic home rather than a repair project.
Before
After
Preparing a Home for Sale?
We’ll identify the improvements that matter before listing.