You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Thinking of moving to France and don’t know where to begin, or how to do it, or what to expect?

Of course you don’t. It’s a big project to make such a move to another country on the other side of the big pond with different everything—different language, different laws, different customs—different everything. It can be very frightening.

But, there’s no reason to be frightened of it, especially if you learn the things you DON’T KNOW before you embark on the adventure.

We have a saying here at the Adrian Leeds Group: “You don’t know what you don’t know.”

Ain’t that the truth? And what you don’t know CAN hurt you because big mistakes can be made while you’re trying to find the answers on your own. You can participate in social media groups and forums where you think you might find the answers, but that’s like the blind leading the blind…filled with people seeking answers from people who don’t have them themselves. We urge you not to do that and instead seek the help from professionals…like us.

It all starts with a consultation…

Avoid the professionals who are not American because while they might know their side of the equation, they don’t know yours. French or even British, how could they possibly know what you’re going through as a North American emotionally quitting your homeland, crossing the cultural divide and physically making the adjustment, including the financial and tax implications? They can’t, but we can.

We’re “French Property the American Way.” We are Americans who have lived and worked in France for many years and know the ropes from end to end. I had a client this week who had consulted briefly with another firm that helps international clients make the move. He told me that they said it was near to impossible to find a rental apartment in Nice because inventory is so low.

I chuckled when I heard this, because our on-the-ground staff of four in Nice are successfully finding properties to rent and buy every single day, resulting in hundreds of happy clients. I explained that the difference is that we have a team on the ground, who are working with agencies and landlords regularly. They then realize we bring them qualified clients (clients who have paid us for the service), and therefore they choose our clients over the others to fill their apartments. The same is true for Paris and other cities in France where we work regularly. We have the clout that an individual or even most other advisors, don’t have.

Patty Sadauskas, Jay Corless, and I do the consultations, one-on-one. Most consultations take place on Zoom and last 90 minutes. They can also be done in person when the stars align.

Each of us brings something unique:

Patty Sadauskas

More than 10 years with us. A logistics magician. She knows the administrative process inside and out and has answers for absolutely everything.

Jay Corless

Our Paris rental strategist. Brilliant, calm, knowledgeable, and possibly the best apartment finder in the city. His clients adore him.

Willow Miller-Cornu

Willow is our newest addition. Half American, half French, and sharp as a tack. She can out-admin almost anyone and always knows how to find the right solution.

Me

I’m the most expensive of the four, and for good reason—I help you strategize at a higher level and see pathways you don’t yet know exist. I’m direct, honest, and known for “telling it like it is.” You don’t come to me for platitudes—you come for clarity and truth.

Here’s what one of our recent clients wrote about working with us:

“Adrian is a no-nonsense person who is ready to deal with any situation to help relocate Americans to France…Adrian Leeds Group handles all the issues that could arise when moving to another country. They have experts in place to take the worries off our shoulders…The process was simplified and demystified by the team, which made a frustrating process easy. Now we can look forward to our new life in Nice, France!”

“We would recommend Adrian Leeds Group without hesitation. The process from start to finish in making the move from the US to Paris and finding an apartment in Paris couldn’t have been easier.”

“There are a couple of reasons ALG was our go-to source. One is the fact that the ALG can handle everything! From finding and getting us settled in the apartment, to setting up the apartment utilities, to banking and money movement to France, as well as our Visa, ALG provided us with everything we needed. Second, expertise. Everyone at the ALG is an obvious expert in their field. We knew we could trust ALG due to the obvious expertise of the staff and their ability to really understand what we were looking for in our apartment. Our agent intuitively knew that the apartment was a key part of the lifestyle we wanted to enjoy when in Paris and how the apartment fit into that lifestyle. Yes, ALG saved us money! First off, I was convinced finding a place would have taken us three months and $30,000 in travel costs as compared to two weeks and $3,500. Working with the ALG is like pushing the EASY button!”

We have testimonial after testimonial after testimonial from our satisfied clients (read them here)…but it all started with a consultation. It’s money very well spent, and if you’re making a purchase, the cost applies 100% toward your search! If you’re looking to rent an apartment, a portion of the fee applies toward the search, so your investment in the consultation just gets more valuable.

We have a special deal to whet your appetite—our two upcoming group consultations on February 5th and 12th at 4 p.m. France time (7 a.m. Pacific, 10 a.m. Eastern).

This is the best way to begin the process.

Each session will be led by Patty and me together on Zoom for 90 minutes. Between the two of us, we’ll be able to answer every question.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Direct answers to your questions
• The chance to hear what others are asking
• Community, camaraderie, and connection
• Expert insight at a fraction of the cost

Dates & Times (France/CET): February 5 and 12 at 4:00 p.m. CET (7 a.m. Pacific/10 a.m. Eastern)

Each session lasts 90 minutes.

We can’t publish our fee structure in an email, but I can tell you this: The cost is < 28% of a consultation with me and < 39% of the cost of one with Patty. And you get both of us—for the price of one.

There are only 12 spots total
Six per session
Once they’re gone, they’re gone

Bring a spouse, partner, or friend—no extra charge. If you’re serious about moving to France, this is the smartest first step you can take.

Register now before your spot is taken!

A la prochaine…