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Summertime and the Livin’ is…in France!

Adrian Leeds Lounging on the beach in Nice, France

SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN’ IS EASY

If you think you will use your precious summer vacation to find a property to rent or purchase in France, think again.

Even under the best of circumstances, France goes on vacation from Bastille Day through the month of August, and when I say “goes on vacation,” it’s no joke. What this means is that offices are closed and workers are inaccessible. They have the luxury of actually being on vacation without the guilt we Americans seem to have. Those emails you sent to various French companies are not likely going to get answered until vacation is over.

This summer is even worse, thanks to the Olympics. Paris is a total train wreck. The city is gearing up for the games and the hordes of expected visitors. The quays along the Seine are lined with fencing. Bleachers are set up on the bridges and along the quays. Traffic patterns are disrupted causing every driver to bitterly complain and any trip by taxi or Uber will take you twice as long. Parisians are promising to take leave of their beloved city while the insanity takes over.

As I have written before, I have not been a fan of the Olympics taking place in Paris. It was upsetting that we couldn’t have our traditional picnic on the Champ de Mars on Bastille Day to see the fireworks. As we were perched on the Pont Neuf to get a glimpse of the light show from a less-than-perfect vantage point, I was looking down at the water and mentally recalling scenes from the recent horror film, “Sous la Seine” (“Under Paris), when a giant shark appears in the Seine. Before long, the river is filled with sharks and anyone in the water becomes their dinner, even the World Triathlon Championship swimmers, an event spearheaded by the mayor (a woman meant to mock Anne Hidalgo), who refuses to heed the warnings of the experts that there will be carnage…and of course, there is, and plenty of it.

The triathlon and marathon swimming legs are scheduled to take place in the Seine near the Alexandre III bridge during the Olympics. The city is claiming that the water is safe enough, but if I were one of the Olympic swimmers, I’d refuse to endanger myself to satisfy the ego of the Mayor! But, that’s me. They might be thrilled to have such a chance!

Other parts of France are affected with events taking place, too. The cities of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice, Bordeaux, Nantes, and Marseille are also hosting Olympic events as will Villeneuve-d’Ascq, near Lille, which is just an hour away from Paris by TGV. You can expect these cities to face similar challenges to Paris.

Nonetheless, the point is that you must remove your expectations of what you can accomplish during the summer and I promise you, you will be a lot less disappointed!

CONSULTATION TIME AND THE CONVERSATION IS EASY

The one thing possible during the summer is booking a consultation with us. We may be taking scattered vacations, but we’re American and that means we’re working pretty much as normal.

There are three of us doing the consultations now—Patty Sadauskas, Jennifer Parrette and myself. Both are quite accomplished and knowledgeable. Patty has been with us for nine years and she knows the business even better than I do. Jennifer is a well-heeled real estate agent who preferred working with our North American clients than the ultra-wealthy internationals. We try to tailor the client’s needs to the strengths of the consultant, too, so that everyone gets the most out of the session.

Sure, we charge for this time (two hours), but the fee applies toward our other services, so very little is lost along the way. And it’s imperative that the consultation takes place before moving on further with your plans. You don’t know what you don’t know. We know the things you don’t know. Therefore, your dreams may or may not be realistic or even fit your goals.

What we do is very different from what traditional real estate agents do. We’re consultants and the subject is much broader than real estate. Finding property is the end result of a person’s plans to move to France. There is so much that must be considered before you set out to find a property to rent or purchase. Even that might be an important decision—do you rent or purchase? Or rent first with the idea to purchase later? And how does that fit into your financial picture?

Meme for the Adrian Leeds Group consultation services

The three of us have varying styles of consulting and varying specialties.

Patty is particularly adept at working with people who are planning to get a visa and then rent a property. She lives in Nice and loves it, but also has experience living in Paris and Nîmes in the Occitanie. She came on a whim and managed to score a job working with us the day after she set foot in France! When I hired her, it was to just do some scanning and filing a few hours a week. I discovered quickly how resourceful she is and therefore knowledgeable. Now, nine years later, she’s basically running the company, so you’re in good hands with her!

Patty Sadauskas

Patty Sadauskas

Jennifer is totally clued in when it comes to seeking a property to purchase, of any type in any location in France. She’s lived in many parts of France and has a lot of knowledge of purchasing and living in country homes. When it comes to the administrative aspects of property purchasing, she’s well-versed having worked for some of the most prestigious real estate firms before moving over to our side. On top of it all, she’s very personable.

Jennifer Parrette

Jennifer Parrette

When you consult with me, you will get tough love. I’ve been through it all, have seen it all and am not fazed by any problem that might present itself. In order to survive in France as a single mom without the ability to legally work (the first 10 years), I had to get creative and not only figured out how to survive, but to prosper. I will hear your story and then give you realistic direction that I know will work for you. I can help you set yourself up to be able to work in France legally, take a hard look at your financial picture and determine where in France it makes the most sense for you to live. It may not be what you had in mind, so you can expect to see things very differently after our conversation! Dreams can often turn into nightmares if you don’t have a clear picture of the results of your actions…but we have that picture. “Been there, done that!”

Often, I joke that my “crystal ball is very clear”—and it is, because we’ve helped thousands of people successfully make this move to France, and/or invest here. We do know what works and what doesn’t and along the way we’ve seen too many people make costly mistakes because they didn’t have good advice, or didn’t ask for advice at all. (Not smart!)

Adrian Leeds/ crystal ball

And please don’t “crowd source.” This is the road to hell paved with good intentions. People spouting their experience or “knowledge” on Social Media are not necessarily all that experienced or knowledgeable—at least not enough for you to confidently follow their advice. And they love to complain (because they made the mistakes themselves not having good advice) or just love to show off to any audience that will follow them. Take everything you read on these platforms with a grain of salt, but talk to us and make comparisons.

When the session with one of us is over, we provide a recording to you along with a transcript, so you don’t have to take detailed notes. In addition, we send you a follow-up email with a ton of information and resources to help you on your path to a successful move or investment. And then answer your follow-up questions. We provide all the resources you will need, too…so no stone is left unturned.

We think of it as giving you the Yellow Brick Road to Oz, but let’s call it France, instead of Kansas! This is where you will find your true home (Dorothy), where you will gain knowledge and wisdom (Scarecrow), get the courage to make the transition to a new life (Lion) and love every minute of it along with all your new friends (Tin Man).

Dorothy and friends on the yellow brick road

Don’t make the mistake of not investing in a consultation with us. The move you’re about to make it too important to be penny wise and pound foolish. Get on the right path from the beginning. We promise we can put you there!

Here’s how to get started.

A la prochaine…

Adrian LeedsAdrian Leeds
The Adrian Leeds Group®

P.S. We were among the first expat real estate agencies to provide services for North Americans seeking to move to France or invest in French property. We have years of experience as well as relationships with top industry experts to help you with everything related to French property. Please visit our Services page for the full range of assistance we’re able to provide.

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