Walter and Debbie Priebe thought they were doing the right thing.
Their home in Pompano Beach, FL—which they purchased in 2002 from Walter’s father—needed serious repairs. The walls were infested with termites. The roof was failing. But more than that, the house held deep emotional value: Their late son had done the plumbing himself, and the home is set on the water, complete with a seawall and boat lift they’d added over the years. A dream home of their own making.
In 2021, the Priebes decided to renovate with the future in mind. They would fix the roof and add a second story, making space for aging in place while preserving the structure’s sentimental roots…