Your expertise needed!

[ouiparis]

Hello everyone! It's time to play "Help Me Pick an Apartment!"

#1 is in the 11th for 700 euro, 37 m2. This is probably the most aesthetically appealing to me.
www.feelslikehomeinparis.com/ModernLiving.html

#2 is in the 2nd for 530 euro, 35 m2. Great value, but the loft isn't the most ideal sleeping accommodations.
www.vrbo.com/110497

#3 is in the 1st for 800 euro, 25m2. It has an awesome location and view!
www.vrbo.com/155206

#4 is in the 6th for 770 euro, 45 m2. I like the location and it's the most spacious.
www.vrbo.com/54193

Merci!

[GitteK]

# 3
# 3
# 3

That is an AWESOME apt. !!! Yes, 800€ is a bit tough to digest, but if money isn't an issue....I might even seriously consider taking it myself, as it meets all my demands:
7th floor, elevator, internet, view, washer

Only if you are indeed willing to bleed 800 staccatos per week, you can easily get a 1 bedroom (instead of a studio) - so if I were you I'd look at other agencies too:
perfectlyparis.com
vacationinparis.com
parisianhome.com
paristay.com
parisaddress.com

[grndma]

oui... I must congratulate you on your research. All these apartments are worth considering.
Depends on your priorities
#1 11th, can't comment on location as I've not stayed and they don't show many pics ( which would concern me) but I know that someone (GraceJoan?)swears by the agency and Yolande person.
#2 2nd. Good price, interesting area, not as "touristy" as some and everyday items are more reasonable to buy. Near Rue Montorguiel great market street. The sofa seemed in a dark corner and there did not seem to be much headroom in the Loft. These may not matter if you are not in during the day.
I like the fact that they give lots of pictures as though they have nothing to hide.
#3 Smallest, most expensive, but if a view is really important to you then that will overcome the above. Elevator. Great location. I have stayed in this area, on rue Richeleau and thought it was great, so central for everything and the metro is on your doorstep. The down side is that prices for everyday items seemed to be a bit higher than other places.
#4. 6th Good location, although they don't tell you exact address, Spacious, 2nd floor , No elevator, depends how young and fit you are.
Based on the info I had, and if price wasn't an issue, I think Would go for #3 or#4. But I would want more information like which street it was on, then I could visit with photos de ville and explore the proximity of shops cafes metro etc.
I would also want to know if it was streetside or not and how busy the street was, as quiet is important to me. I am not so bothered about a view. I'm more concerned if the place has an elevator if it's above the 1st floor. Also wi-fi and a washer/dryer would not be important but a dishwasher would.
Good luck, I love this game!
Denise
Love from England

[ouiparis]

Thanks, Gitte and Grndma! If you can stand another one, what do you think of www.vrbo.com/153496 ? It's 32m2 for 650 euro in the 8th. I've got more pictures than the ones that are displayed, but they were sent via email, so I can't really post them here.

[grndma]

:)Looks really good. Do you know the address?
Denise

[ouiparis]

Denise, I don't have the address, but I will email the owner. Here are some pictures.

[GitteK]

My favorite passtime is apartment surfing, so you can NOT wear me out on this, toots ! OK, the lack of pictures was one issue I was going to point out, but you've take care of that already. Another thing: what floor is it on, and is there an elevator ?

And what exactly is it with this apt. that you like ?? To me it's kinda "blah"....... But OK, it has got the necessary equipment (washer+internet) - and I dig the totally cool fact about "Russian spoken".......

For all you know, this may be a spook hide-out or safehouse, so you never know who'll knock desparately on your door in the middle of the night and fall in over the threshold with a dagger sticking out of his back, while he thrusts a microfilm into your hand and just before he expires he begs you NOT to give the microfilm to ............ or else..............

(sorry, my imagination sometimes gets me carried away)

Another drawback, as compared to #3: it has NOT got the "view of the Sucre Goer" ;D ;D

[grndma]

Oui.... Looks realy niceand the area sounds "posh" not too noisy, Can't decide which floor it is on.
Sorry, have to go and eat tea now, will be back later.
denise.

[GitteK]

grndma, I know you are a Tea Total, but actually EATING the tea........ isn't that pushing it a bit too far ??

[ouiparis]

Gitte, you crack me up! I'm glad that you are an apartment-finding fanatic. I should've prefaced this entire thread by saying that my priority is usually aesthetics. View is important too but comes second. I like the decor of #1 and (I guess we should call it) #5.

Yetunde just emailed me back and said that she doesn't have a good photograph of the bathroom for #1 but that I could look it up on TA and read others' reviews (huh?), but yeah, like you said Denise, I know that GraceJoan likes her.

DH really loves #3, but did y'all notice that beam sticking out over the bed?!

[GitteK]

I have been emailing with Yetunde also - and to me she feels like a 100 pct. reliable person.
I have not rented from her yet (her apts. are beautifully decored, but just a bit too expensive for my purse), but the Laidbacks told me last month that these girls (who run the Montmartre agencies: Gail and Yetunde, Alex & Isis) really know each other very well.

The Laidbacks have rented apts. with Yetunde before. And you can trust the Laidbacks about apt. renting..... I mean, those people spend 4 MONTHS in Paris PER YEAR !!!(aaaaaaarggghhhhhhhhhhhhh...................)

(banging head into desk in desparate envy)

[ouiparis]

Interesting information, thanks! I did a search on the TA Paris forum and found two posts re #1's bathroom. It's apparently small, but modern and clean.

I don't know whether #5 has an elevator. I don't mind walking. Just got the address from the owner. It is 8 rue d’Anjou just off the number 40 rue du Faubourg saint Honoré.

Thanks again!!!

[ouiparis]

Okay, just found an attachment that I missed previously that has additional information regarding apartment #5. It is on the 1st floor, so I'm guessing it is the 2nd floor for Murricans. It probably doesn't have a lift; otherwise, they would've mentioned it.

[grndma]

;D ;D ;D Gitte.... I have to keep exalting you for making me laugh so much. You really are on form tonight. (it's 9pm here)
RE " got to go and eat tea"
Sorry I posted that in a rush,...... "tea" means evening meal in this part of the world and midday meal is referred to as "dinner" unless it's a snack or packed (as in taking to work) and then it's "lunch". "TEA" is also a beverage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know these colloquialisms cause confusion so I try to avoid,but that caught me out.
Just one of the idiosyncrasies of us English.
Back to the apartment hunting.
Denise
love from England

[gracejoan]

I have a dozens that I could give you, but you might like this one:

www.vrbo.com/46310

[grndma]

Oui... if its aesthetics you are after, check this out. The Tour Eiffel apt.
www.allure-apart.com/
(And you can watch a video on the site).
This was an apartment recommended to me by a TA member. There is no elevator and it's in the 7tharrondisement.
They also have one in Montparnasse with a fantastic view. a little bit more expensive. I think you can view it through the website.
Maybe Gitte can add it to her list of apartments with views and elevators
Denise

[GitteK]

Denise......... in fact I did know what you meant, but I couldn't help teasing you. I have seen all 350 episodes (or how many) of "Upstairs, Downstairs", so I know about you High Tea concept.........

[Jody]

I liked #3 except for that beam in the middle of the bed. I'd probably roll over and "beam" myself! I like the area of #5. So many to choose from. I have several saved if you'd like to see them.

www.vrbo.com/46310

www.vrbo.com/49273

www.vrbo.com/53846

www.vrbo.com/24464

[grndma]

;D ;D Dear Gitte..... This is the idiosyncrasies of the British class system. No it's not high tea, it's TEA. a completely different meal. High tea is a middle or upperclass concept, taken by persons who have time to eat in the afternoon, or children who go to bed early. "Tea" in the working class industrial northern areas is the main evening meal eaten when people come home from work in the early evening.
Love Denise

[ouiparis]

Thanks all! I have to run to get to a baby shower; we are SOOOO late! I will look at all of your suggestions later!

xoxo,
Oui