Frederic, vice-president of a tech group, divides his time between Paris, the United States and Asia. His partner Allison still lives in the United States and is due to join him in Paris in October. The Home Select property hunter found them a 100 sqm flat in the 12th arrondissement, a property that had stayed unsold because it was marketed as a 3-room with one room too small. The price came down from 1,120,000 euros to 1,075,000 euros, sealed with champagne at the sellers’ home.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Central Paris, neighbourhoods well served by the metro
- Property type: 3 rooms (+ small bonus bedroom), approximately 100 sqm, recent upscale building
- Initial price: 1,120,000 euros + parking
- Negotiated price: 1,075,000 euros parking included (minus 4%)
- Renovation: 30,000 euros of updating
- Buyer profile: Franco-American couple, senior executive, expat
The context: an impossible schedule
Frederic’s diary is full across three continents. He approaches Home Select at the same time as two other buying agents. Communication is hard: Lisa cannot reach him for days on end.
The turning point comes when Lisa texts him a listing she thinks will suit. Its relevance catches his attention. They have never met in person.
The mandate signed thanks to a property identified in advance
They first meet in a cafe near the Bibliothèque nationale. In 30 minutes Lisa pins down the brief: a recent upscale building, at least 2 bedrooms, at least 100 sqm, a balcony, good light, close to the metro. The budget is substantial. The couple have no children and need only two bedrooms, with perhaps a spare room for the American in-laws.
Lisa mentions a flat on rue Lamblardie in the 12th that she has been watching for a few weeks. She cannot arrange a viewing without a mandate. That evening, the exclusive mandate is signed.
The property: a 100 sqm apartment nobody wanted
The rue Lamblardie flat has been on the market for a while. Listed at first for 1,120,000 euros, it had come down to 1,090,000 euros. The problem was its billing as a 3-room when one of those bedrooms is tiny. Families dismiss it; couples without children never look, since they are not searching for three bedrooms.
Lisa sees the match at once: for Frederic and Allison the layout is ideal. Two proper bedrooms for the couple, and the small third room is perfect for the American family when they visit Paris.
The owner, a private seller, did not want to deal with property professionals. Lisa wins her round by presenting a qualified buyer, ready to view at short notice.
The Skype viewing for Allison
On 28 April, Frederic views the flat and is smitten. He cannot commit without Allison, who is in the United States, and the owner will not allow photographs. Lisa sets up a video viewing, filming the flat room by room while Allison comments from the other side of the Atlantic.
The flat is a hit. Lisa sees an American touch to it: the kitchen-diner set apart from the living room, the result of previous owners removing a fourth bedroom, which suits Allison’s habits.
The negotiation: marathon weekend and champagne
Frederic flies Allison in for a 48-hour weekend. Lisa lines up a marathon of viewings on Saturday and Sunday for comparison.
Before heading to rue Lamblardie, the three agree on the tactics: offer 1,070,000 euros parking included, instead of 1,090,000 euros plus 20,000 euros for the parking. If the flat appeals, put the offer in at once, ahead of the day’s other viewings, to negotiate from strength.
Allison is won over. The offer goes in on the spot. The sellers had hoped for 1,080,000 euros. After three more viewings during the day, the couple return to rue Lamblardie. The final offer is 1,075,000 euros. It is accepted at once, sealed with a framboisier, macarons and champagne at the sellers’ home.
The renovation: 30,000 euros of personalization
The flat is in excellent condition. Frederic and Allison spend 30,000 euros updating it, chiefly swapping the tiles for hardwood flooring. Home Select recommends a trusted contractor and coordinates the work, a full turnkey service: search, notaire, renovation.
What this mission illustrates
A property hunter sees what the market misses. A poorly pitched listing, three bedrooms with one too small, was putting off families and never reaching couples. Lisa connected this apparent flaw to Frederic and Allison’s profile straight away. Reading supply against demand in this way is what creates value.
The right process takes the friction out of international logistics. A Skype viewing, an offer drafted within 24 hours, a marathon of viewings over a single weekend: everything was compressed to fit a couple split between two continents.
A flat that has been sitting can be negotiated. Lisa secured a 4% discount, no record, but a saving of 45,000 euros on a property that fitted perfectly.
Buying in Paris from abroad? Entrust your search to our property hunters: 1,200+ buyers assisted since 2011.
Frequently asked questions
How can you show a Paris apartment to someone living abroad?
The property hunter conducts a live video viewing (Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime), filming each room and answering questions in real time. At Home Select, this is standard practice for expat clients. The video viewing allows pre-selection of properties before a physical trip for the final decision.
Can you negotiate on an apartment that has been difficult to sell in Paris?
Yes. A property that remains on the market for several weeks often signals a positioning issue: price too high, poor presentation, or a perceived deal-breaker. A property hunter identifies these listings and matches them with buyer profiles for whom the perceived flaw is not an issue. The negotiation margin on this type of property ranges from 3 to 8%.
How does a property hunter convince a seller who is reluctant to work with professionals?
Some private sellers refuse to work with intermediaries. The property hunter contacts them directly, explains that they represent a qualified buyer with a strong file, and proposes a no-obligation meeting. The prospect of a serious buyer, ready to view immediately, is generally enough to overcome the reluctance.
Why can a property marketed as 3 bedrooms stay unsold in Paris?
A poorly positioned flat puts buyers off. In this mission, the 100 sqm in the 12th was marketed as a 3-bedroom with one room too small: families ruled it out for lack of a real third bedroom, and childless couples never looked, wanting only two bedrooms. The Home Select hunter matched it with a Franco-American couple for whom the layout was ideal, the small room serving for visiting in-laws. That reading of supply against demand allowed a 4% negotiation and a purchase at 1,075,000 euros parking included.
