Taking Time for Thanksgiving

 
Traditionally the French Property Insider publishes 50 issues a year, allowing us to take a break for a couple of weeks each year. We’re taking our second break this week in order to travel, cook, drink, and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with our families and friends.
This issue is a recap of upcoming property events and French Property Insider information. We encourage you to take advantage of our archives and other articles written for past issues and enhance your knowlege and understanding of living and investing in French property. On the other hand, you can take a break as well and travel, cook, drink, and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with you families and friends.
A bientt and Happy Thanksgiving!
 

Schuyler Hoffman

Production Manager, French Property Insider
Email: [email protected]

 
P.S. Look for a new and exciting issue of FPI next Thursday!

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Volume VI, Issue 48, November 27, 2008
In this issue:
* How to Prepare for Paris’ Paliers
* French Property Fractional Offerings: Updated List
* Today’s Currency Update from Moneycorp
* Hot Property Picks: Beautiful, Bountiful Beaujolais
* December’s Notaire Property Auctions Almost Here
* Hot New Leaseback: SAINT HENRI
* French Property Mortgage Assistance
* Parler Paris Apartments — Les Portes de Notre Dame
* Parler Paris Aprs-Midi: When We Meet Next
* Managing Your FPI Subscription

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Stepping Up to the Paris “Palier”
By Adrian Leeds

 
There are 70 steps up to my Marais apartment. I counted them the first time climbing them when visiting the apartment in the summer of 1997 before becoming its inhabitant. The stairs date back to the 17th- century and have a particular formation that tells tales of its former life.
The building was once a “htel particulier” (or townhouse), where the wealthy, aristocratic French lived when visiting Paris from their chteaux in the countryside. The women had wide skirts, so the stairs are wide to accommodate them, and the rise of the stair is short, so the climb is easier. Still, with each level, the turn of the stairwell is different.
From ground level “0” (“Rez-de-Chause”) off the courtyard where the horses and carriages were kept, the stairs turn at right angles twice to arrive at Level “1” (“Premier tage”). This level housed the reception rooms and from this point, the stairs circle up two-thirds of the way, then turn a sharp right to the “palier” (landing) of Level “2” (“Deuxime tage”) where the bedrooms (“chambres”) existed. From this point, the stairs narrow sharply and take again two sharp turns, leading to Level “3” (“Troisime tage”) where the servants lived. This is where my apartment is — once made up of many little rooms, now 70 square meters, all overlooking the street, with smaller windows than the two levels below me.
The American lifestyle I was used to consisted of one flight of stairs in our two-story Los Angeles home, and previously in our apartment, like most, had elevators. So many stairs were not part of my every day life, with the exception of attending “Step Reebok” classes that were invented to simulate the healthy advantages of using steps!
For all the years of living up 70 stairs, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with them. People visiting the apartment have often remarked about why we haven’t added an elevator, which many buildings have done, in spite of the big expense.
The configuration of the steps don’t allow for an elevator, plus their 17th-century character is not something any of us would want to destroy. Plus, the stairs have always offered clear advantages and disadvantages, which I’ve come to see now as “blessings in disguise.” Thanks to the stairs, I’ve developed nice
muscles in my arms and legs, better shaped
‘buns’ and I get a good natural cardiovascular work-out. I’ve never been healthier, and I have the 70 stairs to thank.
When looking to purchase an apartment in Paris, stairs are a big concern. If you
purchase an apartment beyond the third floor without an elevator, renters may not be very willing to climb them. If the apartment is too low, it may lack light, particularly if the windows overlook a narrow street or courtyard. If the apartment is on a high level with an elevator, and the elevator is malfunctioning, everyone may suffer, including your rental returns! If it appears the homeowners association is willing to install an elevator, expect a big assessment and a battle from the owners on the lower levels who don’t want to pay for an asset they don’t think they will use or need! (Foolish on their part — as it ALWAYS increases the value of the property!) Either way, consideration of the stairways are an important aspect when making an important property purchase decision, particularly in Paris in older buildings that lack elevators.
The condition of the stairwell has been abominable all the years I’ve lived in the building. As a result of climbing them many times a day disgusted by the dirt and peeling paint, I spearheaded a movement to have them renovated. As it turned out, the owners in the other three buildings on the courtyard were in agreement for their own dilapidated stairwells and by a vote, it was decided to proceed to renovate them.
It was an expensive endeavor and the assessment was painful to bear, but the improvement to the property well worth it. There is no question that its condition adds value to the property — any appraiser will agree with this.
For the last two months, the workers have been repairing the cracks, wallpapering with a special cloth, preparing to repaint and then refinish the ancient wood stairs. Climbing and descending has become an obstacle course, but never mind — the finished product is sure to please us all.
Over the years, I’ve learned how to maneuver the stairs so that they have become a pleasure rather than a burden. These can be taken as helpful hints to anyone who must climb more than one flight:
1. Never leave the apartment without checking to make sure you have everything
you need. If you get to the bottom of the stairs and realize you’ve forgotten your umbrella, you may not be so thrilled to climb them again and end up wet!
2. If you have a large mailbox on the ground level, you can use it to house a few items you’ve purchased or have been carrying so that you won’t have to climb the stairs just to deposit them at home.
3. Simply roll heavy suitcases up (backward) and you can roll them down (forward), one step at a time. It takes time, but it’s not a weighty burden. Just be sure you always have rolling bags!
4. Have your groceries delivered (most of the grocery stores will do this for a minimum spent or a small fee).
5. If you don’t have them delivered, then never buy too many at a time. Instead
of bottled water, buy a filtered carafe and never carry those heavy bottles up again.
6. OR buy a good grocery cart — the best has three wheels on either side that ‘jump’ the steps easily. The one I have has been a life- saver. (I first saw these in Venice where going up and down the bridges over the canals could have been a nightmare for shoppers, but wasn’t!…made by Rolser, see http://www.rolser.co.uk for more information.)
7. Never run up or down your stairs. Never. That is unless you don’t care about killing yourself. If your stairs are as highly polished as mine, then you could easily do exactly that if you take them too quickly.
8. Use the time you spend on the stairs to breath deeply and relax, think about pleasant things and reflect on your wonderful life in France. And don’t forget to thank the stairs for keeping you slim, trim, and healthy.

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