Hello,
What has been people%26#39;s experiences with paris-pro-rentals.com? The owners are Sylvain and Catherine Labbe. I am considering their apartment at Rue Froissart 13. This is my first time booking an international apartment stay, and I want to be careful to book with a trustworthy company (e.g., the description in the ad is accurate, they will not wrongfully keep the security deposit, etc).
Some of us are still students and we are on a budget of 450-550 euros for six nights.
Thank you very much for your feedback.
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I have not used this company but a few things to watch, which you may have already been aware of or inquired about
# The prices given are for weeks/months and high/low season. Will they rent for fewer days and is the cost withing your budget?
# They require all money in advance. This always concerns me because you have no idea if the apartment will be clean, appointed as agreed nor with everything working. Having been caught once this way we will not now rent from someone who wants all money in advance. I want to at least meet them at the apartment before I pay over.
# The lack of human contact also worries me. Keys left in a lobby means no meeter and greeter.
# Have you considered VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner)which is very interested in making sure what they have on their list is up to standard.
I hope someone else can give some assurances.
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Hi Lynnb48,
Thanks for your tips. Yes, I initially found this posting on vrbo.com. Their response included their website (paris-pro-rentals.com). The rate is within our budget. What concerned me was the lack of guest feedback on vrbo.com, even though the property has been listed on vrbo since 2005. Also, the booking process seemed a bit lackadaisical, especially considering the fact that, on their website, Sylvain is described as having ten years of experience in the French real estate business. For example, Catherine told me initially that the booking process was simply to send a 150 euro deposit through Paypal. However, their website describes their booking fee as 10% deposit plus a security deposit equivalent to 10% of the total rent. When I pointed this out, she said I may secure the booking under the terms described on their website. They also charge a 5% fee for Paypal, but do not appear to offer an alternate payment option. She also mispelled the company%26#39;s Paypal account (omitting the hyphens in the URL).
When I asked for any references, they did give me a contact in Denver, CO. I%26#39;ve yet to hear from him, however.
I don%26#39;t want to be overly paranoid, but I also want to protect myself.
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I should add that her initial comment regarding a 150 euro payment through Paypal comprised only the security deposit. In other words, pay the security deposit in advance and pay the rental fee at the check-in time.
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I don%26#39;t know what she has said privately to you, but the terms and conditions indicate that you are to pay the lot a month before the rental begins. Very hard to find this I might add, sort of buried in the text. So it sounds like pay all money owing a month before and we will leave the keys for you, so you don%26#39;t get met at the apartment and you don%26#39;t get to jump up and down if it is putrid etc. Mind you it probably won%26#39;t be, but we have been bitten in Paris (dirty bathroom, non-flushing toilet, dirty additional bedding like the extra pillows, stained upholstery on the dining chairs, almost no equipment in the kitchen) so you need to opportunity to see this. You also need the opportunity to note things that are already broken or wrong so that you don%26#39;t get charged for them.
I used Paypal to a guy in Spain and for E100 he paid 4.5% and my exchange rate was down about E4.5 so they are making 9%. Nice work.
You can use a bank transfer to pay. It costs too.
We have also paid a deposit by Australian cheque and exchanged it for Euros on arrival. That worked well but I suspect was open to abuse by us if we were dishonest.
Good luck
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Thanks so much for your help Lynnb!
I%26#39;m also looking at a place in Montmartre on Rue des Saules, around the corner from the Lamarck metro. The owner for this other apt seems legit. What do you know abt that neighborhood?
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It is an area I have walked around but not stayed in. Tucked in behind Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. Others would probably say a bit out of the way but we stayed near Abbesses metro and found the area lovely and because the Metro was close we had no difficulties getting around.
It is a bit more residential too, but that often makes things a bit cheaper. Just watch floor space. Paris flats can be tiny. I have seen some at 22sq m and thats not enough space to scratch yourself. We had one once where you had to open the toilet door to stand and zip your trousers.
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Hi Lynnb,
Thanks so much for your helpful tips. We%26#39;ve decided to go with the Montmartre apt. It%26#39;s about 400 sq ft, which should be enough room for us. I really appreciate the time you took to send along your advice! May all your travel adventures be joyful.
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Have a great time. Paris is Paris after all.
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