mardi 19 mai 2009

Moving on up

I'm trying to move offices at the moment. Running the gauntlet of the French real estate world (again).

How difficult would you think it is to find some decent offices with warehouse space attached?

Well, it's kind of impossible.

As Phil and Kirstie would say, most of these places require 'vision'. Vision that means looking past the dead pigeons on the floor (really), ignoring the fully operational toilet in the corner of the office (really), forgetting that the floor moves on the mezzanine level (boy did it).

The French realtors are a breed unto themselves. They are regularly 30 minutes late for appointments, have to be chased for any follow up and generally have little or no information. They certainly never have the answers to my questions.

On Friday last week we stood outside a building - in the rain - for thirty minutes before deciding to go home. I was furious.

Fifteen minutes later - 45 minutes after the time of the appointment - my mobile phone rang.

"Hello sir, I have arrived. Where are you?" It was the realtor.

"Oh, I gave up and left fifteen minutes ago" I replied.

"But I came all this way to meet you!" he said, indignant.

"Yes, and I was there on time. You weren't".

"Well, this is very bad. I will not work with you again. I am here now, but you have chosen to cancel the appointment at the last minute. We shall not do business together".

He got even more upset when it turned out that I wasn't in the slightest bit saddened by this news. I told him that I wasn't bothered. That if his idea of good service is leaving me outside in the rain for half an hour then he needs to think again. That he isn't the only realtor in Paris and I'd be very happy not to work with him again.

"Now, monsieur, let us not be hasty...." he said, trying to win back the situation.

I went back to the office and instructed another realtor.

Let's hope this one turns up on time.

Let's hope he finds me an office.

I mean really, how difficult can it be?

14 commentaires:

Anonyme a dit…

why don't you look at combining the office with where you live, sort of a loft plus.
Lots of advantages - cut travel,saves time money etc . I just love it since I have done it

travelling, but not in love a dit…

VM - it sounds good, but working with Debbie, plus the new person i'm recruiting...all traipsing in and out of the house....might just be a bit much. I think keeping the two things separate is probably better.

Especially with my personal life as it is, he he...

aims a dit…

I would imagine it is very difficult to do this in Paris. Especially getting the 'right' place. Good luck on that one!

Anonyme a dit…

Oh, I can see this is going to be a frustration filled process.... *grabs popcorn and pulls up chair*

cb a dit…

there is no excuse for poor customer service-- even from the French.

Ooooo SNAP!

A Lewis a dit…

I have zero tolerance for those who are not on time when everyone else is. It's so discourteous. So rude.

Daryl a dit…

Oh I feel your pain, except my issue was standing in 98 degree heat outside a building waiting on an interior design chick who was supposed to take me to see office furniture. She never showed up. Never even called me. I tried to call her on both her office and mobile w/o reaching her. She called the next day 'so so sorry' for the confusion. I explained I was not confused I was at the appointed location and the agreed upon hour... I told her that I no longer needed her services.

What is with people in sales do they not want to make a sale/make money? Imbeciles.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Aims, kind of impossible really....i need all the luck I can get!

Rob, watch this space - no doubt there'll be adventures...

CB - please explain that to the french next week. I'll watch and see how that goes....

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Lewis, rude, discourteous and just plain stupid. I mean really, this guy wants my money!

Daryl, it's just nonsense isn't it? You want the money, you turn up on time. You get there early in fact...but hey. Not in France.

The Mutant a dit…

Wow, it's like every french stereotype ever all coming true at once! Ha ha.

Real estate in Australia is kind the same at the moment. Occupancy rates are at an all time high and if you want to 'win' a rental it takes all kinds of underhanded tactics to get an agent interested. Usually they just don't give a shit though, right now they don't have to kift a finger, therefore they do not.

I wish you the very best of luck - fingers crossed this new agent gives a damn!

Anonyme a dit…

I give a 6 minute window to any meeting. If you haven't turned up by then and haven't called me? I'm off.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Mutant - they do love to live up to the stereotype...unfortunately....

12oti - 6 minutes is short - you a beeatch! That'd never work here, alas....

Tony a dit…

Who dear? Late dear? Me dear? No dear ....

travelling, but not in love a dit…

LaTanya, I hear you're always 'on stand' on time....