10 Points for Scoring the Perfect Paris Rental – Sponsored Article

1.    Find the right agent and stick with them. Your mama may have told you “you better shop around,” but in this case, save your time and energy. There is a finite number of available rental properties in Paris, few if any of them are exclusive to one agency, and the rental cost of a given apartment will be the same regardless of the agent you talk to. Rather than spending time seeking a better deal elsewhere and haggling on price, find a firm whose style you like, with whom you want to work, and stick with them. These people talk to each other, so word would get out if you are working with more than one agency. This is okay if you don’t care about having a cordial, supportive relationship with the individual dealing with your living arrangements. If you do want someone to look out for your best interests, it’s best to be a one-agency kind of customer.   2.    Maximize convenience and reduce risk with a home-based agency.Working with a U.S.-based agent is a good thing on several fronts. You have a common language and no more than a three-hour time difference (in the continental states, at least), so there is convenience as well as clarity when talking all the details. Perhaps more significant, doing business with an American firm (and using a credit card for the financial part) will really help if something goes wrong and you need to dispute the deal. 3.    Start well ahead of your vacation date. Nailing down arrangements six months or more before your trip is a good idea. You will not only have the largest selection of eligible apartments to choose from, but may qualify for an early booking discount. 4.    Housing first, air second. Don’t book air travel until you know you can get the apartment you want. Doing it the other way around, you may not be able to match up your trip with the housing of your choice. In that case, your options are making do with another property, or shifting between apartment and hotel on one or both ends of your visit. And who wants to bother with unpacking, repacking, and unpacking again when there are a lot of other much more fun things to do? 5.    Consider your timing. Many Parisians leave for vacation during August. As a result, there tends to be fewer waiting lines and generally less city bustle–at least away from the tourist areas. On the other hand, many restaurants, theaters, and other attractions are closed in August. The weather is generally better in the summer; on the other hand, in the winter there are fewer tourists and entrance to the major museums will be easier. 6.    Think about your general style. What part of the city do you want to live in? Do you want to be close to all the primary tourist attractions or would you prefer to be in a quieter neighborhood and travel in to see the sights? Do you lean toward streets full of modern chic or historic charm? Plush furnishings or contemporary angles? This is all useful information to share with your agent. 7.    Know the specifics of what you want. Do you have small children? Are you traveling with elderly parents? Will you want to do a lot of cooking? Are you fantasizing about croissants and café on your terrace overlooking the city? Must you have an elevator and high speed Internet access? A bath tub? Know your “must have” and the “nice to have” amenities and let your rental agent know so that they can match you up with good properties right away. 8.    Get a detailed description before committing.  Get as much information about the rental and its location as you can before signing an agreement. Find out if the agent (or one of their staff members) has personally inspected the rental.  Will the owners be available during your stay to ask questions and deal with any issues that  might come up? Ask for photographs of the interior and exterior and references from other renters who have stayed there. 9.    Understand the terms. Make sure you read the rental agreement and understand payment terms, deposit requirements, and any other stipulations included in the document before signing. Ask your agent to explain anything you have questions about. 10.    Like to gamble? Check on last minute deals. If you are flexible about travel dates and apartment amenities and can make your trip to Paris on fairly short notice, you could save on rental costs by booking an available property at the “last minute.” Check with your agent to see what properties are unbooked a week or two out and ask about discounts for choosing one of these.  Keep in mind that there is some risk with this approach–you will only get to choose from what is available, which may or may not be your cup of café au lait. If you absolutely must have things a certain way, it might be best to stick with standard booking procedure.   Rita Borges is Managing Director of Paris Luxe,  http:// www.parisluxeapt.com , a firm specializing in short term rental of upscale and luxury Parisian apartments. A one -stop solution for first rate quality Parisian apartments, Paris Luxe is an expert partner for non-French speaking individuals, couples, and families looking for Paris apartment accommodation for a week, a month, or a year.