Apartment hunter for a consultant who loves Parisian terraces
Found!Discover a search quickly conducted by Catherine Ziegler, our apartment hunter, specialized in Paris Center. A demanding and very busy woman, Caroline is looking for an apartment in the heart of the capital, with a terrace, to continue living outside as much as possible. A challenge, qualified in the field as “long and difficult”, magnificently taken up for our property researcher!
What were the main lines of Caroline's project?
Currently, Caroline is the tenant of a large house located at the Gates of Paris: until now, she occupied it with her 2 children, who, today, have each taken their independence. Having become too big for a single woman, Caroline is now looking to get closer to Paris (and her work) and to find a space adapted to her new situation.
How do you take advantage of the best opportunities when you don't have time?
An associate consultant in a large Parisian firm, Caroline does not have time to make intermediate visits to find her new home. Recognizing this serious handicap, in a hyper-tense Parisian market, she decided to entrust her search to a real estate hunter.
What encouraged Caroline to choose HOME SELECT real estate hunter?
While surfing the Internet, she came across the Home Select site and, quite naturally, got in touch via the form offered on this space. In September, she signed a semi-exclusive mandate, in order to reserve the right to find by herself, through her own network. Indeed, knowing many professionals in real estate, she did not want to deprive herself of this possibility.
How was the research formalized?
Upon receipt of the mandate, she was immediately contacted by our real estate hunter Catherine Ziegler, a Paris Center Research Specialist at Home Select. They agree to a telephone appointment to determine the desired criteria for the new property. For an area of approximately 65m², Caroline wanted to have 2 bedrooms, to be able to occasionally accommodate guests and especially a terrace of at least 15m². The idea is to be able to dine there for 6 people and without vis-à-vis. A real living room, the quality of this outdoor surface was essential for her — appreciating the possibility of being outside, even when the temperature was not there. In terms of location, Caroline wanted a search concentrated around the 1st to the 7th arrondissement of Paris, or even the 16th, but only a few neighborhoods, such as Trocadero or Victor Hugo, in a sector benefiting from a real neighborhood life, with shops, as well as public transport.
How do you approach a difficult search?
Catherine Ziegler began her search on the Internet: finding a property, with a terrace in the area defined by Caroline, will not be easy. Very quickly, our real estate hunter realizes that no product in his file matches. She decides to activate her network, but everyone is unanimous: the search is likely to be long and difficult!
What issues were raised during the research?
During the month in which the mandate was signed, Catherine still managed to present her with 3 apartments with terraces, but there was always one criterion that was not appropriate: a poor orientation of the terrace, work, a luxury but uncharming building, etc. All these elements allowed our property researcher to refine her search. At that time, they also decided to organize a physical appointment in Caroline's offices, in the Parisian Golden Triangle, etc. Catherine discovers an extraordinary volume, a beautiful standard and an exceptional view, which allow our hunter to better understand his client and to determine what type of building will be likely to be suitable. From then on, it opened research on the ground floor and ground floor on the courtyard. Unfortunately, in the 5th, 6th, or even 7th districts, Caroline's budget is no longer sufficient to qualify for this type of space. As the funding is not expandable, it was agreed to extend the research area to the 16th, 17th and 18th. After a few unsuccessful visits, in October, Catherine encouraged Caroline to come To visit An apartment in Levallois. A modern and recent residence, with a very beautiful 35m² terrace. Initially destabilized by the location, Caroline is then quite seduced by the services offered, but the 2-3 days of reflection that she gives herself are enough to let the good pass. Catherine returned, a few days later, with another apartment in Neuilly: the property, overrated, corresponded well to the criteria, however, it still required transformation work. Caroline's offer, which took this into account, was immediately refused by the owners. From then on, the research conducted, with its share of disappointments.
What exclusivity could make the difference?
At the beginning of March, Catherine contacted the agency, which managed Neuilly's apartment, again to ask if she did not have a property to offer her. Precisely, an “off market” property could be likely to interest Caroline. The apartment has 73m² and a roof top terrace with an identical surface area. The Official Sale Must Be 8 Days Later...
How could the apartment seduce Caroline?
Located on the 3rd and last floor of a well-maintained building, the 73m² apartment has one bedroom, a double living room and a separate kitchen. But the layout is such that Caroline can consider the second bedroom she wanted, with some work done. Accessible from the common areas, the roof top terrace, which runs over the entire surface, offers a quiet and unobstructed view of the Bois de Boulogne and La Défense. Note that the current owner has requested direct access from her apartment to the terrace, accepted by the co-ownership.
How was the offer accepted by the seller?
Following the first visit with Catherine, Caroline immediately brought in a friend, who lived in the neighborhood, to come and visit with her. After more than 3 hours in the apartment, the agency in charge of the property, tells them that there is a small margin of negotiation possible on the price. The next day, Caroline then wrote an offer. A single woman, without a computer, sharing her time between Brittany and Paris, the owner took some time to officially accept the offer. A positioning facilitated by the real estate agent, who obviously wanted to satisfy Caroline, perhaps, because of her first disappointment, with the other apartment in Neuilly.
What work projects were mentioned?
In addition to a slight update, Caroline plans to carry out the necessary work, to allow her, in the near future, to have direct access to the terrace from her apartment. On this subject, the director of the real estate agency told him the name of an architect, in Neuilly, who had already performed this type of services and was well known to the City Hall, for these specific interventions, which are relatively common in the sector.
The Essential Collaboration Between Real Estate Hunter and Agency
Recalling this research, Catherine Ziegler especially remembers the great collaboration with the real estate agency, which made it possible to conclude this sale — whether through the presentation of the property “off market”, the negotiation of the price and the strategy put in place, to get the seller to accept the offer.
A Positive Experience for the Purchaser
Recognizing the complexity of this research, Caroline expressed a nice “thank you” for Catherine, on the occasion of the signing of the promise of sale. Between the time of administrative formalities and the work planned, it will have to wait until the fourth quarter of 2017, to take full advantage of its 73m² of terrace!
