Not our first rodeo!

This wasn’t Shawn and Tami’s first rodeo.

They sat me down for the grilling of a lifetime! They definitely knew what they didn’t want, and they knew what they probably wanted, they knew what flaws they could correct, but were new to Portland and  they didn’t know the neighborhood. They also wanted a floor plan that was hard to find.

Was I up for the task?  Well, I certainly enjoy a challenge!

We set out with a modest budget in mind and a lot of learning to do. I had been through this dozens of times before, but every client’s threshold is different and everyone has to learn it for themselves.. Some houses have been “re-muddled” into ‘crap’ and no matter how great the price, not ultimately worth it.  Some houses are just too ‘odd’, and some have funky floor plans. Some houses you walk into and just shake your head and wonder how anyone ever lived here –  with that supporting wall removed and the ceiling now caving in.. “Hey this floor rolls, whee!”

Yet we persisted. All along wondering “could we find a gem in the rough?” Something that met our floor plan needs, that if remodeled nicely wouldn’t out-price itself for the neighborhood?  It seemed ominous.  We were getting disillusioned. Time was running out.  We’d seen everything on the market. So…

We bumped our price range.

In ONE DAY, one showing, we found it!  Found IT!  A ranch house, in the sweetest neighborhood, with great bones and perfect floor plan that with mild updating would be the dream “forever” home, and ultimately cost less than a “crap” house fully restored!  Any money (though it was totally liveable from day one) put into this home would just appreciate with the neighborhood as it had held it’s value since being built in the 50’s.  Perfect!

It was almost too easy. Why hadn’t we done this earlier? ….Because we had to learn.

The moral of this story is to weigh out your remodel budget versus your finished home budget. Perhaps it’s a more expensive home of greater original quality that is a better ultimate investment, and will make you happier in the long run. Viva la house shopping!