We’re back for some more of our Homeowner Spotlight series! If I’m counting right, we are at 5! This series tells their stories - the different needs, wants, personalities, and passions that go into finding the perfect home. It is my honor and my passion to help my clients find the place that they call home. And being able to share their journey with you is just icing on the cake!
Today we are featuring Paul & Shantel Maes and their adorable family of 6. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Paul and Shantel, as well as Paul’s parents and sister, and I can say without reservation that this is a family that truly values and cherishes one another. Every home considered and decision was carefully weighed against what would be good for each child and how it would impact their ability to create a warm and inviting space for everyone in the family. It’s oh-so-evident that they love and adore one another.
The Maes
We are Colorado Natives and proud of it!! We have been married for 17 years and have 4 children, so there is never a dull moment in our lives. Shantel grew up in the Springs and I was born and raised in Longmont where we made our home for 15 years together. Life up north changed dramatically 3 years ago and we made a life changing decision to move our family out here. One, we wanted better opportunities and options for schooling for the kids, as the school our kids attended for so long shut its doors. It amazed us at all the options that were available and eventually picked The Vanguard School for all four of our children. Two, the house prices in Northern Colorado were rising at a rapid rate and we knew we would not be able to afford a bigger house to accommodate our growing children. Lastly, we just wanted a reboot in life. We were both at jobs we hated and were not going anywhere.
Side note: We are all very competitive so needless to say we can not get through a board game....ever.
The Wishlist
The most important features we were looking for were the amount of rooms the house had and the location. We wanted to find a home close to where our kids were going attend school but still be close to where we worked so we didn't have such a long commute.
Saying Yes
We originally did not think we could afford a house in this neighborhood but it turns out we could! The house was in a neighborhood right near our kids school and it had plenty of room for our family of 6.
Favorite Space
If you asked us we would all have different answers, but we tend to hang out in the living room more often than not. We have had many life changing moments in this room - lots of conversations, tears, and laughs. One of the best things about the living room is that at a certain angle when you look out the front window it almost feels like you are in a tree house because the branches of our tree are the focal point of our view with Cheyenne Mountain in the background!
Favorite Project
We updated our flooring, painted some walls updated some lighting fixtures and put in new appliances.
Future Plans
Right now we are investing in making our front and backyard more welcoming. We would eventually like to knock down some walls in the living area to make it feel more open.
Family & Pets
Our kids all have their own rooms now and it's just nice to see them really enjoy making this house their home too and finally able to invite their friends over.
Favorite Part
We loved looking at all the beautiful houses and seeing how much we could afford. Also getting to talk with and getting to know Jessica more.
Working with Jessica
We "accidentally” found Jessica through Paul's nephew, whom did some work for her on personal projects. We clicked right away and decided we wanted to have her as our realtor and signed paperwork within that week. She was always so amazing to each one of us every time we met to look at houses. Apparently, Jessica wrote a letter to the owners of the house we now own and they told us that letter is why they picked us! We still do not know what was said in it, but that just goes to show how invested she is in her clients getting into their dream home. We absolutely love her!!! And would recommend her in a heartbeat.
One of my favorite parts of working with the Maes was hearing the giggles and laughter from their kiddos… who play together so sweetly. They’d skitter through each house to claim their rooms and exclaim squeals of joys when they saw something cool or unusual. It made my day… every time. Even though many of the homes we toured were empty or weren’t yet their own, the warmth that exists in their family is the superpower that can make any house transform into a home. And I knew without a doubt that wherever they chose to land, it would be such an amazing place. Thank you, Paul and Shantel, for choosing me to help you find it!
Photos by Megan Klackner
