Should I worry?

[suzanne]

So selected an apartment and sent my deposit. It is #42 from VIP. Liked that it on the top floor with a little view. Has a good price, elevator and a washing machine.

Now they have informed me that the building is to have some renovations to the exterior and to the roof. They do not seem to know when these renovations will begin or be finished, just sometime between Jan and March. To date nothing has started.

We are scheduled to be there the last week in March. I'm mainly concerned about the roof since we are on the top floor. I don't think noise should be a problem since they don't work at night and we are early risers for the most part. Could dirt and dust be a problem?

In your opinions should I pick another place or take my chances with this one?

Thanks,

Suzanne

[Anne]

I don't know about the dust, but there will be most likely scaffoldings on the façade (that's why people try to couple exterior and roof renovations, in order to maximize the use of the scaffolding) . If the scaffolding runs in front of your appartment, it means that you may have to keep the shutters closed most of the time in order to protect your privacy when you are in and to avoid housebreaking while you are away or sleeping .

[Truffaut]

Suzanne,
The realities of work in Paris is that NOBODY can predict when it will begin or end, much less what might be encountered during the course of the work. Generally, work won't start until 8:00am at the very earliest (more likely around 9) and will end by 4:00pm. Since you won't have the windows open, dust shouldn't be a problem either. It's perhaps not an ideal situation, but it shouldn't be that much of a problem. You should check to see if the work on the exterior is to be a "ravalement". If so, you'll probably find that the entire exterior of the building will be covered with scaffolding which will seriously impede your view.

[Truffaut]

Again, great minds thinks alike, Anne!

[holger]

Poor you. But at least they notified you. Once you get more information, you can decide whether you should see if they have an equivalent apartment or perhaps would give you a nice discount for the inconvenience.

Looking forward to our mini OPG get together in March.

[suzanne]

I agree that it was good that they notified me. Now, that scaffolding possibility has me concerned. I picked this place because it said it had a view. The apartment faces the back of the building. Do they put the scaffolding around the whole building I wonder??? The biggest problem is that they cannot tell when this is all going to happen if at all. They have not offered any compensation. Just the FYI.

[holger]

Since they are in the U.S I would call and ask. It seems to me they should do something. The worst they can do is say no.

[cybee]

Arg! Well, even the apartment's name in the VIP listing is "Tower View Studio"...so obviously they know that the view is key...so I don't think they should be too surprised if you have questions/concerns re the view! Hopefully best laid plans have not gone asunder!

[suzanne]

WEll, I got new from Metromole who waklked by that the scaffolding went up last Wednesday. He thinks that since our windows face SW it might not be a big deal. So I sent a little e-mail to the folks a VIP letting them know I was not too thrilled about the scaffolding. I don't have the nerve to request any compensation. They have been really nice to me in past and have helped out a freind in need. We are arriving on the 22nd, so hopefully the bulk of the work will be finished. Once I decide on a place I really don't have the energy to look for something else. If you know what I mean.

[suzanne]

I just got an e-mail from VIP. They are giving me a $200.00 refund.

[PariS]

That's great, Suzanne! Speaks well of VIP. $200 extra in my Paris dining/shopping budget would help me overlook the scaffolding

[Sandy M]

Suzanne,

That's great news about the $200 refund - pretty nice of them to do that as they wouldn't necessarily have to. Just think of all the additional shopping you can do now!!!

Sandy

[suzanne]

I am. Too bad I got excited and told Jim about that $200.00. LOL

[Katharine]

Suzanne....the deposit is great. I am sure you telling Jim is no big deal. You can probably just slip that into your shopping budget without him noticing. ;D

Let us know how the apartment was!

Katharine

[bumblebee]

I hate to be the lone wolf here, but if I were you, I would definitely book something else. There are literally hundreds of listings on many web sites including VRBO.com, haveninparis.com, parisattitude.com, etc. Many more. I can think of nothing more ruinous for a fantastic vacation than any kind of construction work whatsoever. Think about not only the fact that there will be scaffolding up, but what about workers staring into your peaceful vacation getaway. And, you rented this place for the view? Well, there goes the view. There is plenty of noise and action to take in on the streets. You want your apartment to be your respite. Peace and quiet. I think it is nice that you got $200 back, but no amount of money is worth paying only for your vacation to be spoiled by loud inconsiderate construction workers. They don't care about you! Only getting their job done. Run back to the internet and book something else.

[sunshine817]

bumblebee, the piece of the puzzle you're missing is French builders' hours...

While I agree that the scaffolding could be a hindrance, another forum member looked at the property in person, and doesn't think it will be too bad. There are very few flats in Paris that don't have shutters -- which are highly effective against those who would have a peek at what goes on in your life!

French contractors start at 9am and quit promptly at 5 pm -- with at least an hour for lunch -- not at all like their US counterparts, who are hammering and sawing at full decibel by 6 am and still sweeping up when the sun goes down.

With that schedule, however, it means that Suzanne probably won't be in the apartment at all when they're working on things -- in this instance, the French time schedules work in her favor!

[denise]

:)Great news suzanne. $200 is alot of croissants, ice cream and chocolate. Just shows what assertiveness can do.

It is a bit late at this stage to find another apartment that would be suitable. Well done!

Denise
Love from England

[Truffaut]

Having lived through apartment renovations in Paris, I can tell you it'll be fine. Yes, there might be some minor inconveniences, and your view won't be as good as it might have been (but I can never figure out why everyone thinks a view from an apartment is so all-fired important--is everyone out there Rapunzel sitting at their windowsill for hours gazing out over the city instead of actually being on the streets experiencing the city....), but ultimately it'll all work out just fine.

[suzanne]

We were informed prior to booking this apartment of the possibility of this happening. I appreciate that we were told in advance and that they gave me the credit without my really asking for it.

Metromole says that from what he saw the work was being done on the front of the building and our so called "view" is out the back so we may still have that. At any rate it cannot be any worse that the air shaft view in the apartment we had last year.

We are usually up and out early so if they work during the day we won't be there anyway so we should be fine. As long as the elevator is working I won't have much to complain about.

I'm frantically cleaning. I don't know why I feeel the need to clean my house before my vacation. Weird really.

[mez]

Mar 3, 2009 10:58:14 GMT -5 suzanne said:

I'm frantically cleaning. I don't know why I feeel the need to clean my house before my vacation. Weird really.

Coming home from a holiday and having to clean house would send me spiralling into depression!

It's better for your mental health to clean before you go - lol. Have a wonderful, wonderful trip!