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| Photo taken from Paris Map, Paris in Color Project by Nichole Robertson, available on Etsy |
This afternoon, I signed the lease for my dream apartment in the Marais! After I discovered it nearly 10 days ago and practically begged the agent to give it to me, I found myself knee-deep in crazy requests for documentation and guarantors. A couple of days later, the agency requested a caution bancaire equivalent to 6 months' rent, which I simply refused to provide, and the matter seemed to end there. I started handing in my dossier to other apartments, and in total saw about 18 apartments over 2 weeks (no exaggeration).
Raphael gently encouraged me to keep pushing the agent, sending her emails trying to find other solutions to the caution bancaire issue (all my bank statements from the previous year? 2 months deposit instead of 1?) and eventually this morning, they gave in. Not only did they drop the caution bancaire entirely, they also scaled back the 3 months' deposit that I offered them to 1 month (apparently it's illegal to request for more than 1 month's deposit for an appartement vide in France.)
Which goes to show you... persistence pays off in Paris. :) So voilà ! I am now the proud new renter of a gorgeous little cosy apartment on the 5th floor of an old building in the heart of the Marais - complete with wooden beams and exposed stone walls! It's going to be the little Parisienne apartment of my dreams. I can't wait to move in and get settled!
Thank you to everyone for all of your good vibes during this apartment search. ♥
awesome! congrats!! I can only imagine you'll decorate it beautifully :)
ReplyDeleteFelicitations! The Marais. What a great neighborhood. I hope you'll be doing some show & tell.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo, congats! And enjoy :o)
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to see pics! Congratulations and kudos for your tenacity!
ReplyDeleteB& J
http://bobofeed.blogspot.ca
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news! Will you be having a huge party to celebrate?
ReplyDeleteYeah!!! Sweet! Congrats! :-)
ReplyDeleteFelicitations Milsters! Perseverance and patience really pays off.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you my dear! Congratulation :) We really need to celebrate this next time we meet up! That such good inspiration for me in the future. Again, congrats to you! When are you moving? :)
ReplyDeletexxx Carin
Congratulations! I hope I'll get to see your new digs sometime this year.
ReplyDeleteYOU are soooo lucky! I dream of a little pied a terre in Paris, especially during these cold winter months in the sheep barn. www.farmhouseinfrance.blogspot.com I hope you will have photos up soon!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Let me know if you need any help moving :)
ReplyDeleteYAY congrats! so when can I come over to visit?
ReplyDeleteWow, that's no small achievement in Paris! How on earth did you do it? Even locals have trouble finding a place and have to bow to these crazy requirements!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, really!
I'm already dreaming of how to decorate it, but I'm going to take my time. First thing's first - I need to find a bed! Good thing the sales are on - best time to get furniture.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paul!
ReplyDeleteI will probably hold a housewarming once I get some furnishings and get the basics set up!
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup :)
ReplyDeleteI'm moving tomorrow morning at 9am! Getting 2 guys with a van to come and help me bring my things from storage and my friend's apartment to my new place. I decided I might as well do it asap so I just get this move over with. :) And I'm glad to hear that it is inspiration for your future apartment hunt! I will keep my fingers crossed for you on that. In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying your new internship!! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too! You must come to Paris to visit sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteAww thank you. You don't have it so bad yourself in the gorgeous countryside that you live in! I'll post up photos once I get some furnishings and set up the place a little bit.
ReplyDeleteAww thanks Edna! That's really kind of you to offer. I think I'm good for now, but I might throw a little pizza party for people who come over to help me with my Ikea bookshelves! LOL
ReplyDeleteMarch! I was thinking of throwing a bloggers' housewarming then :)
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup, Juliette ! :) Honnêtement, je pense qu'il faut être persistant dans ce marché. Quand ils ont demandé la caution bancaire, j'ai proposé plusieurs autres solutions presque chaque jour après. C'était fatiguant mais au même temps, cela leur a démontré mon vrai intérêt et leur a donné confiance en moi à la fin. Et je me permettrai de dire ceci : en France, tout le monde te pose des problèmes ; je pense que pour les gens, c'est rafraîchissant quand quelqu'un persiste à trouver des solutions. Ca c'est la devise de mon copain (qui est français) !
ReplyDeleteI'm in!
ReplyDeleteTerrific! A celebration of macaroons and champagne? You are inventively persistent and definitely must have stood out from the crowd! Hope you share before and after photos. I lived on the rue de Sevigne for 4 years and loved being in the Marais.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! How exciting! You will have fun decorating your new place.
ReplyDeleteSo excited for you. The Marais is a beautiful area; I've been there and will return this summer. ENJOY!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope so! I am moving in starting this morning! 7am and snowing heavily outside - but I am off to meet the movers anyhow :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am really excited to live in the Marais also! That's wonderful that you're coming to visit again this summer :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations !! How lovely .. an apartment in the Marais. If you have time, go read the blog by my friend Amy, "God, I Love Paris " .. she lived on the top floor of a Marais apt building with her little cat Milo. I wish I were there :) besitos, from a rainy Buenos Aires.
ReplyDeleteI already follow Amy's blog! And have read her lovely book! She is an inspiration for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! I hope you give us little peeks of it when you're settled :)
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