Perri Evanson, 63, has given up the comforts of an Old City condo to focus on expanding a Swarthmore rancher that’s been her apartment, writes Paul Jablow for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Workers are turning it into a two-bedroom, two-bath suburban home, adding a bedroom suite in a former attic.

The move to Swarthmore reflects changes in her real estate work and gives her a chance to be closer to her dad and a Jack Russell bull terrier afraid of city noise.

She’s worked as a Realtor since 1995, mostly in the city and nearby suburbs. The pandemic chased her business into Chester County.

“I was driving an hour and a half to show houses,” she said. “That was a little nuts.”

A friend and fellow Realtor owned the home, built in the 1900s, and was renting it out with the intention of moving in herself. She decided to sell in 2020 and go for something larger.

Evanson became the buyer, taking over as landlord before moving into the basement last November.

The renovations continued around her. She’s learned a few things. 

 “It will take longer than you think. It will cost more. And it will be more trouble. “

Read more about Perri Evanson’s Swarthmore home shift in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Enjoy this video from Swarthmore College on how to pronounce “Swarthmore”.