Theodore and Carine, a French couple living in North America with two children, bought a pied-à-terre in the 15th arrondissement with a view of the Eiffel Tower, in an Art Deco residence on the 6th floor, thanks to Catherine Ziegler. The offer was made on photos and videos, and Catherine oversaw the renovation in full while the owners were away.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
- Area: 15th arrondissement (Pasteur area)
- Property type: 3 rooms (2 bedrooms), 6th floor, Art Deco residence, Eiffel Tower view
- Budget: Appropriate for the area, with renovation budget included
- Negotiated price: Offer very close to the asking price, accepted immediately
- Search duration: 6 weeks
- Buyer profile: Expatriate couple with 2 children, holiday pied-à-terre
The project
Theodore and Carine live in North America with their two children. School holidays and Christmas bring them back to Paris regularly, but putting up four people at friends’ homes had run its course. They wanted a pied-à-terre with at least two bedrooms, in a fine period building with Parisian charm and character, in the Pasteur area of the 15th.
The couple did not want major works, at most a fresh coat of paint, though the bathroom and kitchen would need redoing. Catherine Ziegler offered to help coordinate any renovation, but Theodore and Carine first preferred a turnkey property.
The search strategy
Catherine judged the budget workable but tight if the couple ruled out any renovation. The first pre-viewings of Haussmann properties bore this out: in this price range, flats needing no work at all were rare. Every property she saw required more than a simple coat of paint.
A few days before Christmas, Catherine spotted a promising property 20,000 euros above budget. A Haussmann flat, its only drawback a 2nd floor with limited light. The agent let slip that the owner was in a hurry to sell. The couple, now in France, viewed it and offered 20,000 euros below the asking price. The agent hinted the offer might work. In the meantime, another buyer came forward at the full price, and the flat was lost.
The property found
Once the disappointment and the family holidays had passed, Catherine got back in touch. She had found a property with remarkable features, sourced through a suburban agency handling the sale for a friend of the manager: a source most buyers would never think to consult.
The flat lay slightly further south than the couple’s preferred zone, but the 6th floor made up for it. The well-kept Art Deco residence cost less per square metre than Haussmann, leaving room for the renovation within the overall budget. And, above all, a panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower and the rooftops of Paris from the living room.
The flat had two bedrooms and needed reworking inside: swapping the kitchen and bathroom, opening the kitchen onto the living room to make the most of the view, sanding the parquet and fitting wardrobes in the bedrooms. Real work, but manageable with a reliable contractor.
The negotiation
On the strength of Catherine’s dozens of photos and videos from her pre-viewing, Theodore and Carine made an offer very close to the asking price, even before travelling to see it. The lack of a financing contingency and the speed of their decision made the difference. The owner accepted within 48 hours.
Theodore and Carine only saw the flat in person at the signing of the preliminary agreement. There was no disappointment: Catherine’s thorough photographic coverage had already reassured them. The renovation was planned with several contractors put in competition during later visits.
Having to return to North America, they gave a family member power of attorney for the signings. Catherine took on the site supervision: weekly photos, coordination with the contractor, real-time adjustments where a paper plan did not work in the actual space. The contractor delivered on time and within the agreed budget.
What this mission illustrates
The property hunter as a standing relay for expatriates. When the owners live thousands of kilometres away, the property hunter’s role does not end at the signing. Catherine oversaw the renovation week after week, pausing the work whenever the flow of the space did not match the plan on paper. This level of support turns a remote purchase into a controlled project. We describe the method in our guide to buying property in Paris remotely.
Art Deco as a more affordable alternative to Haussmann. Art Deco buildings offer charm and character at a lower price per square metre than classic Haussmann. For a couple whose budget was tight for an unrenovated Haussmann flat, turning to Art Deco left room for renovation within the overall envelope. Catherine saw it as the answer to the couple’s budget-versus-expectations equation.
The lesson of the first lost offer. Theodore and Carine lost a first property by bidding 20,000 euros below the price. On the second, they offered close to the asking figure without hesitation. The shift was not impulsiveness but a lesson guided by the property hunter, who calibrates the offer and negotiation strategy to the context of each property.
Are you expatriates looking for a pied-à-terre in Paris? Contact us: our property hunters handle everything, from the search to renovation supervision, while you get on with your life abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Can a property hunter supervise renovations when the owner lives abroad?
Yes. At Home Select, Catherine Ziegler ran weekly site supervision for a couple living in North America: photos each week, coordination with the contractor, and pausing work when the layout needed adjusting on site rather than on paper. The contractor delivered on time and within the agreed budget.
How does a property hunter find a property through a suburban agency?
Parisian properties are not always listed with Parisian agencies. An owner sometimes entrusts a sale to a suburban agency, often a personal contact. The property hunter, through a wide network and constant monitoring of every source, spots these unusual listings. That is how we found this pied-à-terre in the 15th, handed to a suburban agency for a friend of the manager.
Why make an offer very close to the asking price after a first setback?
After losing a first property over a few thousand euros, the couple changed tack: an offer very close to the asking price so as not to miss out. The lesson of the first negotiation proved decisive. The owner accepted at once, without a counter-offer.
Is Art Deco an alternative to Haussmann for a tight budget in Paris?
Yes. Art Deco buildings offer charm and character at a lower price per square metre than classic Haussmann. For a couple whose budget is tight for an unrenovated Haussmann flat, turning to Art Deco leaves room for renovation within the overall envelope. In this mission, Catherine Ziegler identified an Art Deco residence on the 6th floor in the 15th, Pasteur area, whose more accessible price per sqm funded the renovation while offering a panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower.
