Real estate hunter for an expatriate couple looking for a home

Discover a search quickly conducted by Catherine Ziegler, our apartment hunter specialized in Paris. Andy and Florence live in London with their three children, but the couple wanted to buy a Parisian home in order to be able to return more easily to the French capital they love so much. By entrusting this task to Catherine, they will benefit from an impeccable service, well beyond strict research.

Why did the couple want a Parisian home?

Andy and Florence work in professions that regularly require them to travel: after Canada, they have just settled in London. Lovers of Parisian life, they want to buy a small pied-a-terre to transmit to their three children their affection for the French capital, while establishing a fixed family meeting point, regardless of their future destination.

Why call in an apartment hunter?

Not being there to do the research, Andy and Florence naturally turned to an apartment hunter.

How did they get this contact at HOME SELECT?

After discussing their project with others, they obtained the contact details of Catherine Ziegler, a hunter belonging to the HOME SELECT network. Professional and competent, she had already made several real estate purchases within the group of friends.

What were they hoping to find?

Already knowing how HOME SELECT works, its fees and the way it works, Catherine Ziegler was quickly able to get to the heart of the matter: the criteria for the research to be launched! Andy and Florence were looking for an Anglo-Saxon apartment, with a large living space and an open kitchen, to bring together the different generations. They also wanted 2 rooms, one for themselves and another big enough to accommodate their 3 children. Ideally, not being on site to supervise, they did not want a lot of work. The coveted sector was quite extensive since it included the 9th, the 10th, the 10th, the 11th, the 15th, and the 14th arrondissement, with a preference for the Right Bank, which is more accessible with Eurostar.

How did Catherine start her research?

Following this telephone exchange, Catherine Ziegler activated her network directly and set her alerts on key real estate sites. Given the distance, the principle is simple: if she spots an interesting property, she quickly transmits the announcement to the couple, who quickly gives them back to the subject, to determine what to do: forget or visit.

How did they — all together — refine the research?

After some inconclusive pre-visits, the first encounter between Andy, Florence and Catherine took place during the first visit around Daguerre Street. If the apartment has all the assets to convince, the area is not accessible enough to be selected. The couple took advantage of this trip to explore the center of Paris on foot, identify the streets they like and the micro-neighborhoods in the districts. A job that helped our real estate hunter a lot. A second visit is organized in the 15th arrondissement: the property is on the 2nd floor of a Haussmannian building, a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower. Traditionally rented in Air'Bnb, it will however not convince the couple, who consider the avenue too busy and too noisy: Catherine notes, here, that calm is an important criterion for Andy and Florence.

How did the apartment hunter find?

A few weeks later, the National Federation of Real Estate Hunters sent an email to its members to highlight the sale of a property (managed by another hunting agency for a client for whom she found an apartment and who is therefore selling hers). At the description, Catherine immediately thinks of Andy and Florence: all the criteria are met: all the criteria are met, sector, area, 10 minutes on foot from the Gare de Nord... She therefore sends them the photos and videos in 3D to get their opinion. Quickly, our real estate hunter gets their green light to organize a pre-visit that will take place the next day.

Why was Catherine disappointed when she first visited the property?

It is a very beautiful and very old condominium, with completely renovated common areas, opening onto a large stairwell. On the 3rd floor, Catherine's sister hesitated for a while: she then admitted to Catherine that she had already received an offer for this property, although it was off market, from a direct acquaintance. They are a young couple who have not yet seen the apartment... Despite the fact that they have priority, Catherine, disappointed, decides to make the visit and reports: parquet, light, open kitchen, high ceilings, high ceilings, magnificent metal IPN, magnificent metal, quiet, calm, a bathroom with shower and bathtub, everything is perfect for Andy and Florence since all that is missing is a paint job!

Why wasn't their offer at the price right away?

Given the quality of the product and the couple's enthusiasm, Catherine advises them to write an offer at the price, to place themselves in second position: the experience of our real estate hunter has already shown her that buyers who position themselves quickly without having seen the property can withdraw just as quickly.Two days later, Catherine learns from her colleague that the first offer no longer holds up: they have the apartment! But the latter, exhausted, asks that Andy and Florence come and see him very quickly. Fortunately, the couple was very responsive and everything went well. The agreement was then reached around a long sale, to allow the owner to leave his home only 6 months later. Everything is perfectly orchestrated by the notary suggested by Catherine.

How did they organize their work?

At the signing of the final act, carried out by Catherine by proxy, our real estate hunter retrieves the keys and brings in, at the request of Andy and Florence, the contractors to draw up refreshment quotes. She will even go so far as to ensure the proper delivery of the couple's furniture.

Sharing and perseverance

This research shows that sharing information between hunting agencies is a real asset for every professional! And above all that you should never give up! Even if the offer comes in second or third place: you never know what can happen when faced with buyers who have positioned themselves quickly...

“Catherine's touch? Its small services ++! ”

For their part, Andy and Florence are absolutely delighted with the conduct of this research, appreciating Catherine's valuable advice, such as her availability and her many small services that are very popular with expatriates (power of attorney, furniture reception, contractor management...).