zeb Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Can anyone tell me how much the average handholding fees are which agents such as VEF, Papillon etc charge on top of their normal agency fees? PS I don't need opinions, good or bad, about either of these or similar companies, thanks.Oops - and it's not for the book I'm writing either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boiling a frog Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 VEF charge 4500 pounds plus VAT( from their own info) for their service plus they charge their agent in France approx 2400€ a month for their introductions .Others are in the region of 2000 pounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 You say you do not want opinions about these hand holding companies, just their fees. However, a number on its own is actually pretty useless without considering what they provide for that amount of money. when it comes to what they provide there are in the case of some companies very large differences between what their advertisements say they provide, and what they actually provide in practice.Then there is the aspect about how much you get refunded when they fail to provide even the basic aspects of a hand holding service leaving you "on your own". for example, arriving to in France sign the final contract and take ownership when they "have not got round" to checking what you are about to sign" (and even when they do get round to checking and raising points (after you have signed and its all done), the points they raise point to the fact they do not have a clue about what is going on).sometimes no advice is better than bad advice as you know what you have to check yourself rather than assume that others are doing things (just because they are meant to be doing things).Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boiling a frog Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 You have assumed that Zeb wants to know how much they charge so he/she can compare service Perhaps it is for an entirely different reason that Zeb asks the question.I gave Zeb the answer that was asked for.Why feel the need to elaborate with your own thoughts on hand holding services when that was not the question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 I was just raising the point that its the same as asking e.g. "how much does a road vehicle cost ?". Depends if you are buying a McLaren or a moped. Give a number without saying what you get for that amount makes an amount meaningless other than to say prices can range between x and y (which is also not helpful to anybody).And also, my comments did not identify any specific company.Also, are we talking about prices quoted, prices charged or prices after compensation refunds.You can get "hand holding services" for a lot less that £2000. Probably also depends on what one is thinking of as "hand holding services" and many agents seem to offer this as part of the service anyway.That was the point I was making. sorry if you did not approve of my point, though I do feel it is valid and relevant.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 I paid 1500 euros for : Connection of phone, water and electricity, opening of a french bank account (basically meant they came with us and translated where necessary and told us what papers to bring), plus accompanying us on property visits, notaire visits (for document signing etc.) I would probably have done this myself if I hadn't been trying to hold down/wind up work, property sale etc in England but it was worth it given our circumstances at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Same services as Cooperlola - 1100 euros in 2004. Same reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llwyncelyn Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Not the companies you mention but I was charged £2000 plus vat for the hand holding services and by French Discoveries or was it French Connections I cannot quite remember. However they have a web site and basically what they did was to pick up houses themselves but normally they forged relationships with local Notaires and French estate agencies.However and not what you want to hear but had I realised how relatively easy it was and obviously with hindsight I would have done it myself. But with hindsight at the time there was enough going on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Blimey, I think I might offer this hand holding business. Two grand? Some people have more money than sense, and I mean that in a nice way.I guess if you can afford it then why not, but as Ian (I think it was Ian) said why leave to chance very important matters in the hands of total strangers. Perhaps if they agree to be paid half now half when they've done a blo o dy good job, then that might be ok.Half the fun of moving to a new country is the learning surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llwyncelyn Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Dotty I agree but surely as they say 'it all depends' and matters perhaps and with respect that you may just may have overlooked and could not have exposure to is what was going on at the time in the UK. From a personal standpoint my wife had been forced to take on early retirement I worked in an environment that was constantly changing and I wanted to protect my pension pot. I weighed things up and thought £2k its an investment what is the long term benefit if any. I decided to pay. However now and with as I say the perfect science I would have done it myself. However other people when now faced with the same decision might go down the same route or do it themselves. To those who charge 'it is value added services' and in other words how can we soak more out of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 [quote user="Dotty Trois"] Blimey, I think I might offer this hand holding business. Two grand? Some people have more money than sense, and I mean that in a nice way.Half the fun of moving to a new country is the learning surely?[/quote]I did it myself BUT I found it terrifying: to be faced with attempting to transfer electricity, water, telephone etc to our name. I did not know how to contact the organisations concerned having no previous bill to give details: phone them? help! I did not know the terminology required never mind how the system worked here for each individual utility so I can understand anyone wanting their hand held. Being completely new to our area I knew nobody who could help.Then there is the thought afterwards - have I done it correctly? You find out when the bill arrives ... I managed to order the wrong option with regards the telephone - that was fun: you've signed up for a year madame, it cannot be changed ... but I made a mistake ... I could hear the gallic shrug over the phone ...Sue [8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Dotty, I agree, but as I said, I was busy in the UK and only had a limited time to set things up (didn't have the luxury of being able to take time off to get utilities sorted) because the sale and purchase was happening simultaneously. It was good to have somebody here in France whom I could get to do some of the legwork. I have a couple of friends who moved here at the weekend. I found them a place to rent while they are looking to buy, have fixed up visits to the right people (I hope) and am doing a bit of translation for them on bank charges, contracts etc as they are in the early stages of learning the lingo. It's more time-consuming than you imagine. Can be worth it for some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Hi allI'm not saying you shouldn't use these services offered, but its such a lot of money and then there are no guarantees they have done the job properly. For peace of mind I find/found doing it all myself means I know its been tended to.Again, if you can afford it then why not, just my advice would be to double check and perhaps only pay in full once you are satisfied with the service provided.Dotty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Until you know what you're doing and how the systems work then things like sorting out electricity, notaires, telephones, water look rather daunting. More so if your French is not yet up to full speed!I guess I could have done it all myself, but I was happy to shell out 1100€ to someone I knew would do it right, get us on the correct leccy tariff for our needs, etc. I wouldn't do it again as we know the ropes now, but when you've a million and one other things to take care of this seemed good value, given the time it would have taken me to sort it all out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 [quote user="Dotty Trois"]Again, if you can afford it then why not, just my advice would be to double check and perhaps only pay in full once you are satisfied with the service provided.Dotty[/quote]Being able to afford something and getting value for money are not always the same thing. Just a thought.Benjamin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I guess you have to work out the cost of long-distance phone calls, money lost on time spent away from work, trips back and forth across the channel etc. You get through a lot of euros just doing that. Surely that's what "value for money" entails? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Well we do it for free! Sarah's all over the place all the time translating and handholding folk who don't know the system here....no hang on we were bought lunch the other week for immatriculating a car! I'm going to have to start charging for her....who wants to have Sarah hold their hand in return for a dogs danglies amplifier?Seriously, we couldn't take money from folk who feel intimidated and who just need a helping hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I know you're a generous soul, Chris (I've taken note of an earlier offer to turn up and do a carving demo in return for nothing but the craic) but this is a bit different. [:D]I don't have a dog but if I did I doubt if its danglies would need amplifying, judging by the neighbour's dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I take your point Chris, and I too find myself doing this sort of thing for friends, but I don't know if that's what the original poster was getting at. Not everybody knows any locals whom they can ask for help or who have the time to give it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I think it worth pointing out, too, that many agences immobilieres in France provide a lot of this sort of help and advice at no extra cost to the buyer. Some are only interested in pocketing their fees for doing as little work as possible, of course, and this is where the hand-holders come in, but the good estate agencies try to offer a complete package with good value for money.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 <<<I know you're a generous soul, Chris (I've taken note of an earlier offer to turn up and do a carving demo in return for nothing but the craic) but this is a bit different. >>>Ok we might be depriving someone of business but that's the way the world turns.We didn't come here to extract as much money as we could from folk, there are many who are here to do just that though. It just feels good to help someone out. We sleep well at night and live life on our terms, it's sort of nice to be a part of the human race again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Indeed, what are we all doing here on the forum if it isn't to help each other for nothing? We're here for the craic as well, of course! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"]Indeed, what are we all doing here on the forum if it isn't to help each other for nothing? We're here for the craic as well, of course! [:D][/quote]Right on Cass! I'm going to start a list of those who simply don't do craics, or jokes, or ironing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Include me in the latter. Awful job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alnmike Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 now I never do ironing in the UK, but do in France. No - I'm notashamed to be seen crumpled in the home of haute couture . . . .. it's just that a vat of Kir helps the ironing go down . . . .[6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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