Finding Home: Claire - Paris Group Realty, LLC Portland OR
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Finding Home: Claire

Claire Paris Shares Her Home-Buying Adventure in Portland

Over the next few months, we’re sharing stories from our team, friends, and clients about adventures in buying their first home, remodeling lessons, and other discoveries of owning a home.

This week we’re interviewing Paris Group Realty, LLC owner and principal broker, Claire Paris, on buying a home in Portland.

1. How did you know you wanted to buy your home?
My brother and I had been looking for a year. It was 2001 and a seller’s market, which meant properties sold quickly and for over listing price. We were looking for something we could fix up. Andy and I walked into the house and it was a wreck: blue walls, weird wallpaper, dirty carpeting, and more. We saw past all of that to the built-in bookcases and china hutch, the hardwood floors, and the fantastic layout. We were sold.

2. Was there a trade-off you felt was necessary to make to purchase your home?
Our budget was low, so we’d already agreed to compromise on condition. But this house could be fixed up and look beautiful.

3. Any lessons learned while remodeling?
I had my mom layout the kitchen perfectly and we went to a discount cabinet store (long before Ikea was here!). They didn’t have one of the cabinet sizes my mom had instructed us to buy. I figured if I added the inch and a half of the cabinet that was in stock to another cabinet, it wouldn’t make any difference in the length of the cabinets, so why not? I didn’t realize my mom had centered that particular cabinet so the stove began past the windowsill. So instead, the windowsill was broken with the stove.

It was a small error, but it was a big lesson in paying attention to the details. Every time I go in my kitchen, I think about it.

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Would you like to share your home search adventures, remodeling tales, or how you made your house a home with us on our blog?

Send us a quick note and we’ll be in touch! We’d love to hear from you!

Have more questions or want professional advice on buying or selling a home?

Contact us at [email protected] or (503) 926-5213. We’re here to address all your real estate needs!

 

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