ADVICE BEFORE PURCHASING A REAL ESTATE PROPERTY
How can I anticipate the renovations needed in my future real estate property? How can I estimate the necessary renovations to negotiate my mortgage? What pitfalls should I avoid?
Buying a property without unpleasant surprises
Purchasing a property is a crucial step in life ! It can sometimes be stressful, as many factors must be considered. It is essential to carefully choose your future home or rental investment and to secure your purchase. And yet...
Making one or two visits to a property does not allow for a proper assessment of all aspects of an apartment, especially when you are not a building professional. Looking up "10 tips for your apartment visit" on Google or watching YouTube videos like "Real Estate Purchase: What Questions to Ask the Real Estate Agent" will likely overwhelm you with information rather than help you.
So what can you do to avoid being like two-thirds of the French, caught off guard by an unpleasant surprise after moving in ?* How can you accurately estimate your renovation costs and avoid budget surprises ?
Perspectives Architecture & Design offers a pre-purchase consultation service to assist you during your property visit. Our goal is to provide you with expert advice on your future home or apartment and answer all your questions—helping you avoid any unpleasant surprises!
* According to the Qualitel Ipsos barometer: among surveyed buyers who have changed homes in the past five years, more than two-thirds (68%) reported experiencing at least one unpleasant surprise after moving in!
Perspectives Architecture & Design supports...
FOR A FIRST PURCHASE
We support those who lack experience and are embarking on their first real estate project without knowing where to start.
We help them understand their needs while respecting their budget and advise them on how to present strong arguments to the seller.
FOR A TIME SAVINGS
Our service is designed for those who are pressed for time and wish to delegate completely, whether due to a demanding job or family responsibilities. With Perspectives Architecture & Design, you can be sure that the pre-purchase visit is managed efficiently and professionally at 100%.
FOR A TURNKEY SOLUTION
For those seeking a turnkey, high-end solution, we offer a complete service from A to Z : from selecting the apartment to executing the post-purchase renovations.
We scrutinize each step and ensure a professional and meticulous execution.
Discover the journey of our pre-purchase consulting service
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Visit of the property
Immediate debriefing
Detailed report
Work estimates available upon request
Potential works
The visit of the property
When an interior architect from our firm, Perspectives Architecture & Design, conducts a property visit, it can be with or without you, depending on your needs. We often collaborate in the presence of the real estate agent, allowing us to discuss various topics (such as fees, energy performance, and co-ownership). Our mission is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the property.
Our goal is also to analyze specific aspects that you may not have considered on your own, from common areas to the quality of the windows. We aim to gather as much information as possible to create a complete and detailed dossier. This data will enable us to provide you with informed advice and help you make an enlightened decision when purchasing your property.
At your request, a construction contractor can also be present during this visit to provide a detailed estimate for the work you wish to carry out. The quote will then be included in your comprehensive report.
OBSERVE
During the visit, our interior architect pay attention to details, scrutinizing potential defects, crucial technical points, and any revealing signs regarding the possible workload of renovations.
We are also on the lookout for the positive aspects of the apartment that could be highlighted.
ANALYSE
We conduct a thorough and technical exploration of the property : the electrical installation, the ventilation system, the joinery, and more. The goal is to detect potential hidden defects and damages, such as signs of previous water damage. This expertise allows us to provide an assessment of the necessary renovations and their implications for our clients.
DOCUMENT
Each observation is meticulously recorded. Our interior architect documents their remarks and also takes photographs to keep physical evidence of their findings.
These notes play a crucial role in preparing our detailed post-visit report and can be useful during potential negotiations.
Immediate debriefing
After visiting the property, we organize an immediate debriefing, without the real estate agent, to assess together all aspects of the property you have just explored.
Our interior architect shares their impressions and advice based on their observations during the visit. We openly discuss your expectations, specific needs, and ambitions for this new space. This is the perfect opportunity to ask any questions about technical aspects, renovation or layout possibilities, and necessary adjustments to align the property with your aspirations.
We also address crucial financial aspects if not already discussed : what budget have you envisioned for the purchase and potential renovations ? What is the amount of your loan, and how will that influence your decisions ?
Finally, we evaluate together whether the property truly meets your criteria, both in terms of functionality and aesthetics. We consider not only the current condition of the property but also its potential and the possibilities for customization according to your tastes.
Example of apartment visited by Perspectives Architecture & Design for the pre-purchase advisory service
The detailed report
Afterward, our team of interior architects prepares a comprehensive and detailed report.
This report includes a summary of the property's strengths, as well as identified areas for improvement, along with specific recommendations for potential renovations. We structure the report so that it can support your loan application if necessary. It also includes a broad estimate of potential renovation costs based on our initial assessment.
While we provide recommendations for the work to be done, we do not provide exact cost estimates for these renovations unless explicitly requested at the beginning of the process. To obtain an accurate quote, you must inform us at the start of the engagement so that a qualified contractor can be present.
Our goal is to equip you with all the necessary information to make informed decisions. This detailed report serves as a valuable resource for planning your real estate project with confidence, ensuring no unpleasant surprises !
Finalizing the Purchase and Next Steps
The pre-purchase support service is 100% refundable
if you choose to continue working with us !
If your offer is accepted, you become the owner of your property ! Congratulations !
Will you need interior architecture support to design your home ? Or a project manager to handle the renovation of your new apartment ?
If any work is needed and you'd like to rely on our interior architecture expertise, we are available to assist you throughout the process.
We fully refund the pre-purchase support service if you choose to work with us for your renovation or design projects.
The limits of our pre-purchase real estate support service
The goal of Perspectives Architecture & Design is to provide you with comprehensive and professional assistance when purchasing your property. We help you thoroughly assess the property and offer expert advice on potential renovations and the overall condition of the space. However, it's important to understand the limits of our service. Here’s what is not included in our pre-purchase support :
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Mandatory Diagnostics : We do not perform mandatory diagnostics such as the Energy Performance Diagnosis (DPE), lead testing, or the Carrez law measurement... These must be carried out by certified professionals !
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Foundation and Structural Analysis : We do not evaluate the foundations or the structural integrity of a house. Such assessments require detailed studies by specialized engineering firms and cannot be completed during a simple visit.
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Financial Valuation of the Property : We do not provide a financial estimate of the property's value. For a precise evaluation, we recommend consulting a real estate appraiser!
Need to know more about Perspectives ?
Are you looking to hire an interior architect to realize your project ? Have you stumbled upon our website and are feeling uncertain ? Our clients' feedback is here to guide you in your decision ! With their insights, you can be sure whether we are the right fit for you and if we align with your needs !
To make things easier for you and to distinguish ourselves from competing architecture firms, we have listed our finest skills here. This will help you guide your choice and determine if we are the right agency for you ! We are confident that our expertise and unique approach can make a difference.
Have you visited a property and need an expert ?
Learn more about
our areas of intervention
Our regional expertise extends throughout Paris intra-muros. Although our interior design firm is historically located at 261 rue du faubourg Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, this does not prevent us from working everywhere! Currently, we have completed projects in the 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th arrondissements.
We also work in the inner suburbs (Hauts-de-Seine 92, Seine-Saint-Denis 93, Val-de-Marne 94). In Hauts de Seine, we mainly work in Asnières-sur-Seine, Bois-Colombes, Colombes, Courbevoie, La Garennes-Colombes and Levallois-Perret since these are the towns around where we live. We are also keen on projects in the surrounding areas: Reuil-Malmaison, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Boulogne Billancourt....
We have an extraordinary advantage for getting around: we are on a motorbike! So we no longer have any limits (not even traffic jams): in this way our radius of action also extends to other cities in the Île-de-France, covering Essonne (91), Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (78) and Val d'Oise (95). Among the many cities, we can mention La-Celle-Saint-Cloud, Charenton-le-Pont, Chatou, Le Vésinet, Versailles, Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, Marnes-la-Coquette, Vaucresson, Maisons-Laffitte, Sceaux, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, and many others.
We also offer to carry out projects remotely, as was the case, for example, with this project in Athens . Once the quote has been taken, we work on our computers, so it's easy to work remotely! And let's not lie to ourselves, since COVID, it has become a habit to hold meetings on Zoom, Googlemeet, or Teams...