Brian K. Bailey

I have a French bank account!!

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.
Bob Hope

I wait with baited breadth. The tension is palpable as I enter the establishment. The manager asks me to come into his office. I slowly pad along with my landlady at my side. After offering us a seat, I sit down while trying to maintain a steady rhythm in my breathing. A drop of sweat slowly forms on my forehead and threatens to drip down my nose onto the desk in front of me. My palms are clammy. My head is spinning. I’m in a fog teetering between hope and despair. Will they say yes this time or will this be another in a long series of disappointments? How my emotions ebb and flow so over this potential triumph or crushing defeat. Am I being interviewed for a job? Am I in trouble over an unpaid bill, an overdraft charge? No, I am applying for a bank account in France.

It is true as everyone told me that opening a bank account in France is an illusive, but necessary step to live in France long-term. Even though not strictly legal, most companies in France request a French bank account to pay bills (like cell phone and utilities). While it is possible to use other European banks, obtaining a French bank account is one of those rights of passage.

I had heard a lot of horror stories of the extreme difficulty in obtaining a French bank account. How that many of the banks simply say “Non.” There are many reasons why this is difficult in France. French banking laws require a high degree of confidence in the bank account holder to be who they say they are and that the account will be used for the stated purposes of the account. The local bank manager is also the primary arbiter of granting accounts. This means an applicant needs to prove their identity, their income sources, their residency, their stability, and any other factors the bank manager deems important. Additionally, for Americans, the US tax law places a lot of burden on foreign banks to keep track of transactions and report them to the IRS. This induces a significant financial burden on the banks.

Due to all of these constraints, I was turned down by at least five on-line French banks and a couple of brick-and-mortar banks. I was beginning to wonder if I were ever going to be successful. Then one glorious day, my landlord offered to introduce me to their bank (CIC in this case: https://www.cic.fr/). She helped set-up the appointment with the bank and went with me for the beginning of the appointment. Thankfully, the bank manager also spoke English.

And now I have a French bank account. It’s a Christmas miracle! I will only use the bank account for depositing French income and paying French bills. And CIC provided a bank account with a minimal monthly fee (about 8 Euros/month). I will still use my US travel credit card for most of my day-to-day expenses since I have income from my US pension. But this is one major hurdle completed.

So, the moral of the story is: it’s makes such a difference for a French citizen to introduce you to a French bank manager. This gets over the biggest hurdle every bank manager has to consider: why should they trust you to bank with them. I know it sounds a bit backwards, but the French banking system is very different from other countries. I also noticed there is not really a similar credit scoring service to the FICO score (which originally stood for Fair, Isaac and Company). This makes every account someone is looking to open as if they had to prove their credit worthiness each time.

Here is what I had to provide to open this bank account:

My passport (to scan in)
My visa (to scan in)
Signature sample (yes really)
Last three months of my US bank account statements
Apartment lease rental agreement
Utility statements or attestations (internet, gas, electric)
Letters of recommendations (yes really)
US Form W-9 (IRS tax form)
Etranger registration confirmation

And now I have a bank account that will probably only process a few hundred dollars a month having provided evidence that I don’t really even need the bank account in the first place. I love France! With this and setting up my cell phone to a more permanent service, almost all of the initial big hurdles are completed. It’s now been 5 weeks in Paris. I am humbled and thankful for all those who have helped me prepare and complete these difficult tasks. I have to depend on others regularly to be successful with a smile and patience.

Until we meet in Paris…

Picking up a “package” in the farmland outside Brussels.

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return.
Nature Boy, Ahbez Eden

This trip was something like a subplot to the movie “Red.” I traveled to Brussels, Belgium, this week in order to pick up a “package” at a lonely US military post in the farmland just outside Brussels, Belgium. Never mind the “package” was some prescriptions needing refilling, and this is the closest US military pharmacy to Paris.

It started out like any other spy novel. It was a dark and stormy night… Or rather, it was a cold, crisp day in Paris. Before taking a bullet train to Brussels at Gare du Nord, I picked up a baguette sandwich, curry chicken, with a Coke Zero and a chocolate eclair, because it was Tuesday. Eating in the train terminal, I contemplated what had brought me to this point. A month in Paris and already I needed to return to Brussels. A city where eight years ago, a “ship passing in the night” romance still haunted my memory.

My mind went back to eight years ago to that fateful night. Visiting Brussels for work, I met someone while in the city. We said our pleasantries, but could not avoid wondering if there was perhaps something more, a spark of romantic attraction. We began a conversation in a combination of French and English. As the evening progressed we spoke of “many things, fools and kings.” We had a wonderful evening of talking and then walking around the city. As the evening progressed, we made an unspoken choice. We did not share our names. We both knew that since I was in Brussels for a couple of days, it would have meant a long-term relationship. We both thought that might spoil the magic of this night. We took the metro to the fork in our destinations. One to work, one to the hotel. We said our goodbyes, one final embrace of our lives together.

As I sit in Gare du Nord in Paris eating my curry chicken, these memories come back to flood my mind. I often wonder what if we had shared our names and contact information. Would the long distance relationship had worked? Over these past eight years, I remember that evening fondly and smile. It was your stereotypical ships-passing-in-the-night experience which I will always cherish.

An announcement beaks into my reminiscing: the bullet train to Brussels is ready for boarding (https://www.thalys.com). We pass the countryside at breakneck speed, taking only an hour-and-a-half to get to Brussels Gare Midi.

I drop my overnight bag at the hotel (https://all.accor.com/hotel/7431/index.en.shtml?dateIn=&nights=&compositions=1&stayplus=false#origin=pullman) by the train station and go exploring. The evening is chilly and all my the layers are needed to keep out the cold. I walk through the beautiful city to my restaurant. The city is quiet at night with people walking about getting dinner or meeting up with friends.

My restaurant this evening is Le Cirio (https://www.thefork.be/restaurant/le-cirio-r201555). A quintessential Victorian-style restaurant started in 1886, the food and decor was amazing. I had the Flemish beef stew, a traditional dish that warmed by cold innards. The meal included a hot chocolate and french fries. The Belgique are all about their french fries (or rather, pommes frites). I heard a British tourist remark that Brussels might as well be Liverpool with all the french fry restaurants in the city. Apparently in Liverpool they enjoy their “chips” as much as the Belgians enjoy their “pommes frites.”

Back to my “Red” subplot. I woke up the next morning wondering If my instructions to the pick up place was going to get me there. I hadn’t ventured outside of the city of Brussels, so I was unsure how transfers and bus stops would be. Plus, I had to walk 15 minutes along a country road to the destination. I had come all this way. There was no turning back now. I picked up my courage, downloaded a bunch of Google Maps to my phone and started out to meet my contact. Thankfully the metro ticket kiosk had an English setting. The trip on the Metro started out with going in the wrong direction, quickly corrected at the next stop. The transfer to the bus was more challenging. The information in Google Maps wasn’t quite right, so I had to improvise and study the bus schedules posted on a couple of bus stops to find the right one. Fortunately, the bus stop did have a screen with updates of when each bus was arriving. I loaded the bus which indicated taking me to the right place. I realized after a while that the bus did not stop at each bus stop which threw my counting off. So, with my one good long distance eye, I read the small print on each of the bus stop signs along the way to know where I was. What I didn’t mention so far was that my phone service in France does not extend to Belgium. I did not know this until we crossed into Belgium yesterday. So, I lived from Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi to download maps and directions wherever I was going.

After about 30 minutes on the bus to the outskirts of Brussels, I stepped off at my stop. What I didn’t realize was the stop was next to farmland. Fields as far as I could see of fields laying fallow after the fall harvest. Was this the right place? How could the pick-up point be in the middle of farmland? My pulse elevated, I embarked on the road my instructions directed. After about 5 minutes, the sidewalk ended. Remembering my training, I walked on the side where the cars were coming towards me, careful to walk on the fields when I wasn’t sure the cars were giving me sufficient berth. I turned left where the instructions told me to, still going deeper into farmland. After what seemed like an unusually long time to be walking through farmland, I finally spot it. Like an oasis in the desert, the encampment appeared. After showing my credentials, they let me in like a safe house. I received the package from my contact without incident and walked back to the bus station.

After I got back to Brussels, I could finally breath easier. Needing to calm down after the pick-up, I went to Brussels Grand Place and ate in the sunshine.

Getting back to the train station was a little difficult since one of the metro lines was down due to an obstruction in the track. I did finally make it back to the train station, boarded the bullet train back to Paris, and got the package home safely. This was a wonderful adventure reliving old cherished memories and making new ones including visiting the farmland outside Brussels.

I am truly enjoying my time in Paris so far. I’ve met a lot of people, danced a lot, seen a lot of sights, and checked off a lot of those pesky things you need to do when you move to a new country. Many adventures still await.

Until we meet in Paris…

Louvre Museum and the Sewers of Paris

It was in the sewers of Paris that Jean Valjean found himself.
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Having been to Paris many times, I’ve been to almost all of the usual sightseeing locations. About 15 years ago or so, I started visiting the secondary list of sights that gets into the less well-known, secret, or local-frequented spots. This post talks about two extremes of this list: the Louvre Museum and the Sewers of Paris. I spent about an hour in Louvre to see two areas that I find very interesting to me. One is the displays of the original walls of the city below the Louvre and another is a painting that has always intrigued me from one of my first visits. Then I spent a little time taking a tour of the Parisian sewers – a fun-filled, informative journey into the underside of Paris which channels all the water waste from Paris to water treatment plants.

Louvre Museum: In the basement of the Louvre Museum (https://louvre.fr), in the exhibit “Pavillon de l’Horlage (Clock Pavilion),” the museum displays the changes and growth of the Louvre complex over time from its initial start in 1190 AD to today. The Louvre’s initial purpose was to protect the city of Paris from English and Norman invasions as a defensive fort and walls with a moat. In this basement exhibit, many of the original fort, walls, and moat are rebuilt to show what the fort looked like at the beginning. This part of the Louvre fascinates me the most in the museum because of its size and history.

Requisite selfie in front of the Louvre Museum

One painting within the Louvre caught my attention on my first trip when I was a mere lad of 13. While I did go see the Mona Lisa, this painting, though, intrigued me much more. I think it reminded me of myself as a contemplative, intense boy. Every one of my visits to the Louvre includes a stop at this painting.

“Portrait of a young man holding a statuette” by Bronzino

Underneath the Louvre Museum, is a mall, The Carrousel du Louvre (https://www.carrouseldulouvre.com). Here displays an impressive assortment of high end shops, American stores, Starbucks, and a food court. I stopped here to get some lunch and some delicious macaroons from Laduree, one of the premier macaroon shops in Paris. My favorite macaroon flavor is lavender (not always available, unfortunately) with a silky smooth consistency after an initial subtle crunch. Average macaroons tend to be a little gritty and chalky. This is one of the indications to me how good a macaroon is. In this shopping center is the bottom part of the glass pyramid from of the Louvre as well as a number of shops you would see in any major shopping center in the United States. There is a lot more in common between Paris and the US today then when I first started visiting Paris in the 1980s. In this shopping center is Fragonard (https://www.fragonard.com). A few years ago, I discovered a cologne from the perfumerie, Fragonard, called Diamant (Diamond). It’s my everyday cologne. Many of you have remarked how well it smells.

Musée des Égouts: The final stop was to the Sewers of Paris (https://musee-egouts.paris.fr). These miles of underground tunnels channel the waste water of Paris to water treatment plants. Paris is a very large city with large amounts of water flowing from storm drains, buildings, and apartments all over the city. This is one of those places where you learn about the civil engineering marvel of these sewers and how the city was able to prosper as a result. The smell is unique but not that bad once you get used to it after being down there a few minutes. The museum exhibits the history and function of the sewers. There are guided tours as well.

A clip of waste water flowing through the sewers

Well, onto new adventures as I move into my apartment this weekend and start the journey of setting up utilities, a French bank account, and registering my business with the French authorities.

Until we meet in Paris…

Les Passages de Paris (The Covered Passage Shopping Markets of Paris)

The passages are a peaceful form of the crowd. It controls itself better there, it stretches out; it warms itself up by rubbing against the walls. The pace of the pedestrians no longer slows down humbly, winding around the line of cars like ivy on oak trees. They no longer wade through the mud or the elements. The passage shelters them and envelops them in an almost domestic gentleness. It is a street that gathers itself together, or an interior that constantly undoes itself.
JULES ROMAINS « Puissances de Paris » – 1911

One of the most interesting places to go for shopping and eating are in the covered passages of Paris. In these privately owned covered walkways between two streets, shops and restaurants line the tight pathway with apartments and hotels rising above them. These passages are also known as arcades. While there were about 60 of these passages built during the 19th century, only about 15 of these still exist to this day. The city government of Paris produced a pamphlet which explains their history and which ones are still open today (https://web.archive.org/web/20150216013205/http://www.paris.fr/viewmultimediadocument?multimediadocument-id=120848).

In these glass-covered passages, you can find old fashioned bookstores, nick-knack shops, traditional french restaurants, and many international restaurants as well. I recently spent a day exploring a number of these passages to look at the shops and restaurants that have a lot of character and charm.

I went to Passage Jouffroy (9th), Passage Verdeau (3rd), Passage des Panoramas (2nd), and Passage Molière (3rd). The passages made me feel like I was walking through 19th century Paris. Cafe tables lined the tight pathways. Bookstores displayed hundreds of books on tables as well as inside the stores. Nick-knack shops invited shoppers to explore old Paris with exotic home decor. It was a good thing I haven’t moved into my long-term apartment yet, or I would have been sorely tempted to pick up a few items.

Each passage had it’s own unique character and various shapes of the pathways. Usually the passages zigzagged between buildings and often made a little maze with interesting finds in out-of-the way corners.

Even though cafes throughout Paris usually have tables lined up outside the restaurants along the sidewalks, the passages seem even more cramped as the pathways are already only a few people wide. With tables on both sides of some passages, there was a lot of waiting for others to pass. In order to rest my traveled feet, I ended up getting a good appetizer of croquette de cheddar, a burger, and fries at One&One restaurant (https://www.oneandonerestaurants.com/), 7 Passage des Panoramas, 75002 Paris France.

Many shops and restaurants were decorated for Holloween (One&One restaurant)

The passages, though, have felt the effect of COVID with some shops and restaurants now closed. Passage Molière, for instance, only had one place open, a hotel. The rest of the passage was a series of empty shops.

It has been fun looking for the more unique or fascinating corners of Paris. I will continue to explore this city and share with you these adventures.

Until we meet in Paris.

River Cruise on the Seine River and Mini-Statue of Liberty

Found an Apartment! This week I found an apartment and signed the lease. It’s a two-bedroom, one-bath flat on the second floor (called the first floor in Europe). Move in date is November 5th. I’m very excited to have a long-term place to live which allows a lot of other tasks to start like registering for the French health system. The flat is in an older building (Haussmann style). It also comes with a “cave” or basement. I look forward to hosting my visiting friends in my place when you visit Paris. The flat is located in the eighth arrondissement, about a 5 minute walk to Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe.

In order to be selected for the apartment, I had to prove my financial worthiness through my income, savings statement, last three months of apartment statements, letters of recommendation, and a guarantee insurance. Renters insurance is required, of course, but it had to be with a French insurance company. I went with ECA Assurances (https://eca-assurances.com/) because it was recommended by a number of expatriates in Paris and one of the least expensive renters insurance. I also needed to be able to pay in Euros. I am using Wise bank (https://wise.com) where I can transfer funds from US Dollars to Euros and then pay in Euros. The fees and exchange rates are about the best I’ve seen so far. Many companies in France really want you to be using French businesses and French bank accounts. So, I’ll probably need to get a French bank account one of these days, too. I’m looking into Hello Bank (https://www.hellobank.fr) since it’s an online French bank and inexpensive.

Eiffel Tower and Seine River Cruise: This past week, I spent a day visiting the Eiffel Tower and taking a boat ride on the Seine River. The Eiffel Tower is one of the more recognized sights of Paris. It can be seen from most rooftops throughout the city giving a good help for direction around the city. I took a boat cruise (Bateaux Parisiens) along the Seine River that gives a guided tour of the sights with a little bit of history for each. I listened to some of the commentary, but ended up spending most of the time just looking at the sights. The guided tour works through either your phone (Wi-Fi onboard) or via handsets inside the boat in about 14 different languages. I always enjoy a leisurely boat ride along the Seine to calm my nerves and take in the larger view of the city.

Mini-Statue of Liberty: In 1986, the United States gifted a smaller version of the Statue of Liberty to the city of Paris to commemorate the centennial of the statue in New York City harbor. The statue is on a long skinny island in the Seine River with a beautiful promenade along the island. The leaves have started to change colors, becoming shades of yellow at this time.

Another Mouse: I see mice everywhere! Well, at least two real mice so far and the Disney ones at Disneyland. On the island to see the Statue of Liberty, I saw my second real-life mouse. He was hanging out where I rested for a few minutes searching for food around the benches. He spent about 10 minutes with me, enjoying the sunshine and 60-degree weather. I was able to get a few pictures and videos of this little guy. He was so cute.

A little mouse (not in a restaurant this time…)

Bastille: I also spent some time at the Place de la Bastille where the infamous Bastille prison used to stand. Now it’s a large square with a tall statue in the middle. There also happens to be a canal that runs under the street and plaza. In the open areas, there where lots of boats anchored to the shore. A very peaceful place in the late evening.

My life is filled here with meeting new people, swing dancing, sightseeing, and setting up all the things needed to live in Paris. More adventures await!

Until we meet in Paris…

Made it to Disneyland Paris (and more swing dancing)!

Well, I did it. I accomplished one of my major bucket list items – an annual pass to Disneyland Paris! It’s only about 45 minutes away by train to the outskirts of Paris. Disneyland Paris is made of two park plus a downtown area. I spent the day at Disneyland (Magic Kingdom) exploring the park and riding a number of old favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Snow White. When I lived in Los Angeles, Disneyland was only about 45 minutes away there, too. I really do like living in a large city with a Disneyland that close.

More Swing Dancing: I also went to a swing dance on Friday evening at a new location for me. The dancing styles, music, and attire was very similar to swing dances in the USA. Another example of friendly, welcoming swing dancers in Paris.

Wonder Follow 2021: This weekend I attended Wonder Follow 2021 (https://www.wonderfollow.com/). On Saturday, the guest instructor was from Brazil and spoke English which was very helpful for me. On Sunday, the instructor spoke in French, so my partner translated for me. The weekend primarily was for follows, and the follows were responsible for bringing their own lead. I met my partner by answering a post on Facebook. It was a lot of fun and did include some instruction of being a better lead by paying closer attention to the follow and incorporating her style and personality into each dance.

Apartment hunt update: I am still on the hunt for a long term apartment in Paris. I took a tour of another one today. Here’s hoping it works out.

Now onto more swing dancing and becoming familiar with the city I now call home (that’s Paris if you were wondering).

Until we meet in Paris…

First entire conversation in French (and I almost understood every word) and Rodin Museum

“Bonjour, je veux mon livre.”
Winifred, Hocus Pocus

Bonjour from Paris! A major milestone happened today. I had an entire conversation in French and almost understood every word. It was with my doctor’s office here in Paris, over the phone nonetheless. This gives me hope that once I take French conversation classes and spend some time here, I should become fluent. I do already dream in French occasionally, but my vocabulary in those dreams is limited to simple words and phrases.

First Doctor’s Appointment: This week I did go to my first Doctor’s appointment in France. The hospital, Hôpital Cochin in the 15th arrondissement, hosts the eye doctor my USA eye doctor referred me to. Even with a mix up with the appointment, he saw me that morning in between his other patients. He explained the four doctors I will see regularly in Paris: a general practitioner (or primary care physician), an optometrist (for regular eye checkups), his specialist office (for annual check-ups), and an internal medicine doctor. I definitely appreciate his time in explaining this all to me since the French medical system is very different from the USA system.

Musée Rodin: One of my favorite gardens to visit is located at the Musée Rodin (https://www.musee-rodin.fr/). It contains a beautiful garden encased in high walls so it’s generally quiet. The artist, Auguste Rodin, produced many bronze sculptures including “The Thinker.” Most of my trips to Paris included some time in these gardens. Since I will be going there a lot, I bought their annual pass for 30 euros: well worth it for the tranquil gardens.

Wonder Follow 2021: This weekend is the Wonder Follow 2021 (https://www.wonderfollow.com/) swing dance workshop in Paris. I will be a leader for one of the followers for a couple of classes. I’m excited to be participating in the swing scene in Paris which appears to be alive and well this fall.

Paris Fashion: As I’ve observed every-day men’s Parisian fashion, one of the characteristics is they tend to use solid colors, rather than stripes or prints. I found a men’s store that is filled with brilliant, yet solid, colored outfits including bow ties (https://www.thenines.fr/). So, it looks like a subset of my American clothes will fit in nicely until I need to buy more clothes here.

So, moving right along with my integration into the Parisian life.

Until me meet in Paris…

Éblouie par la Nuit (Dazzled by the Night)

One of my favorite French singers is Navii. One of his songs is “Éblouie par la Nuit” where he bikes around Paris singing how much he is dazzled by the nighttime views of Paris (while singing about a love in his life, of course).

“Éblouie par la Nuit” by Navii

When I walk around Paris, I, too, am dazzled by the city lights, the people walking by, the cars, the sights. I spent an evening on Champs-Élysées walking up and down the avenue enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. This is where Arc de Triomphe is located. I visit this area almost every time I’ve been to Paris. It’s so lively with lots of people shopping, eating, and taking selfies in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

On this avenue is a large selection of stores and restaurants with high end shops like Louis Vuitton and Dior. But, it is egalitarian in that there is a McDonalds, Quick, and Five Guys along side La Duree (a high end pastry restaurant – Macaroons!). I find that when walking among the neighborhoods of Paris, my personal cares and concerns fade as I focus on the spectacle and the stories of those around me. Who are these families walking along the Champs-Élysées? Where do they come from? I listen to a little of their conversations and some are in French, some in English, and many other languages – Italian, Arabic. And each has an entire story to tell, and they are all in this moment enjoying an evening in Paris trying to get the best selfie angle.

The requisite selfie in front of the Arc de Triomphe

I ate dinner at Bistro des Champs where I enjoyed Parmesan-encrusted ravioli and yellow chicken with french fries. A lot of the menu items in Paris come with french fries. I have always found that a little odd that the French like french fries so much. But, “C’est la vie.” Maybe they do that to cater to tourists, although a very basic dish in France is peppered steak with french fries.

Ratatouille! Did I tell you I like the dish, Ratatouille? Well, I do, and you’ll probably hear it again in these posts. While in the movie by the same name it’s called a peasant’s dish, I’ve found it be a savory combination of red sauce and vegetables. I’ve sauteed fish with Ratatouille on the side twice now since I’ve been in Paris. It will probably be a weekly dish for me in Paris.

Le Metro! I love the metro in Paris. I did get a Navigo monthly pass which lets me get on all over the city included in the cost. I love taking the metro and RER trains all over Paris to get around. I read a lot on the metro to pass the time. Many of the signs and stations are in Art Nouveau style. I read up on the differences between art nouveau, art deco, and Arts and Crafts, because it’s important to know these things in Paris (https://canvas.saatchiart.com/lifestyle/inspiration/art-deco-art-nouveau-arts-and-crafts-whats-the-difference). I enjoy looking at the architecture to see the artistry that went into the stations in Paris. One of the metro stops on Champs-Élysées is Franklin D. Roosevelt. The train platform is in Art Deco style.

Tomorrow I visit my Parisian eye doctor and tour a flat to potentially rent long-term. Talk to you in a few days.

Until we meet in Paris…

How I made a large profit selling my house in Manassas, Virginia, USA

Many of you have asked me how I did so well selling my home in Manassas, Virginia, USA, earlier this year. Once I decided it was time to sell, I talked with my real estate agent (Dawn Tollus: https://www.facebook.com/DawnTollusTheMarquisGroup). Dawn advised me when the best time to sell for my home and market. For me, it happened that the end of February 2021 was the peak time to put my home on the market before all of the spring homes started to become available. The previous year, I asked Dawn’s advice on whether to fill in the pool. She advised me to put that money into improved landscaping since many buyers were looking for pools. The improved landscaping (retaining wall and new front patios) are in the video below.

In addition, Dawn provides a showing consultant as part of her services. The consultant went through the house, inside and out, and listed what to fix, paint colors, furniture layout, and anything else that would get my house ready to sell. Ultimately, I needed to make the house a neutral showcase. All the unique paint colors that I loved had to go. Many of the fixtures were replaced with more neutral designs (less style-specific).

I followed Dawn’s and the showing consultant’s advice. Thankfully, my niece, Sam, helped me tremendously as we repainted all the walls and doors, put hardwood floors in the bedrooms, replaced many of the light fixtures and hanging mirrors, swapped shutters with black ones, painted the front door black, and other changes throughout the house. An electrician installed ceiling lights in all the bedrooms. Tile cleaners cleaned the tiles and recolored the grout where needed. The house exterior, deck, and outdoor concrete were pressure-washed. My niece, Alyssa, helped one weekend, and my friends, Jeremy and Frank, also lent a couple of evenings.

As a result of following the sage advice and putting in the right hard work, my house looked like a model home. The intent was to make any buyer feel like they had to have the house, whether wife, husband, or child. Below is the showing video Dawn’s real estate company made.

Showing video for my home in Manassas, Virginia.

When my house went on the market, we had about 66 scheduled showings over the weekend and about 22 offers. As a result of the buying frenzy, many of the offers had no contingencies (meaning no required inspection or bank appraisal) and escalation clauses. The escalation clause allows the buyer to offer a base amount and increase the price until a certain maximum. I was flabbergasted. It still amazes me how high the offers came in at.

(Note: When accepting a contract for a price higher than a bank appraisal would come in at, it’s imperative that the buyer demonstrate they have the cash on hand to cover the difference between their prospective loan and the selling price, preferably in some form of escrow.)

THE RESULT: The house sold for $81,000 over the asking price and about $200,000 over the median price for homes in the neighborhood! As many improvements had been made to the house over 14 years, all investments were more than paid back in the final sale price. I cannot thank Dawn, her team, and my niece, Sam, enough for all they did to bring about a miraculous result. I highly recommend you get a good real estate agent and follow their advice to maximize the sale price and minimize contingencies.

Other posts will talk more specifically on the preparation process as well as how to get rid of excess furniture and belongings.

I saw Rémy today! And went to a swing dance.

While exploring Paris the last couple of days, I did go to a swing dance last night. The group was very welcoming. I had a great time meeting new people. The style, dress, and music was very similar to US swing dances. It was very easy to get involved. I’m going to be attending a lot of swing dances to get to know the dancers, studios, and swing scene in Paris.

A visit to the Galeries Lafayette revealed it to be as posh and grand as ever. The multi-building store on Boulevard Haussmann never disappoints with its large selection of ladies fashion, men fashion, kids fashion, housewares, and home goods. The domed ceiling is always a sight to behold. The glasswalk was unfortunately closed :(, “exceptionally closed.” Not sure what that means, may be similar to “strenuously object.” I took care of some shopping before heading to the terrace…

Amazingly, this was my first time to the terrace top floor of the Galeries Lafayette. Up here, there is a commanding view of almost all of Paris. The Palais Garnier Opera House is right across the street. The Eiffel Tower stands prominently to the right. The city skyline always takes my breath away. And for about 30 Euros, you too can have a Paris skyline on your wall. In the souvenir section of Galeries Lafayette, they sell the skylines of major cities around the world as a single line of metal shaped with the landmarks for each city.

Cellphone: There are many things to get once you move to Paris and many of them require a permanent address, a French bank account, and a utility bill statement. Cellphone service is one of those. I went to Orange store today to get a sim card. In order to have the service contract, it’ll have to wait until I’m situated in a long-term flat. So, I went with their Holiday prepaid cellphone service for the time being. It will work fine for the next couple of weeks.

Metro Card: I am still in the search for how to get a long-term metro card (Navigo pass). The latest is I have to go to one of the larger stations, bring a passport photo, and probably present my permanent address, a French bank account, and a utility bill statement. Wish me luck. It’s my adventure for tomorrow. As a back-up, I’ll get a month pass.

This is the story of moving to another country. There are a lot of things to get, but have back-ups or temporary workarounds since many times you will not be successful on the first try. While it can be frustrating, I’m learning the art of how to ask for the next best thing for what I need. Whether that’s a temporary service, a required deposit, or other stop-gap measure.

Now on to Remy. Today while grabbing a baguette sandwich, I saw a small mouse in the restaurant (not actually Remy, unfortunately). I wasn’t even eating Ratatouille. It scurried under the counter after being seen by a couple of people. The servers were rather nonplussed, though. I won’t mention the restaurant since I’ve been told mice are quite prevalent in Paris. C’est la vie!

Speaking of Ratatouille, I did saute some fish with ratatouille as the garnish at my AirBnB. It was amazingly good. It did bring some “perspective” in how good french food is. I am looking forward to continuing my culinary adventure in Paris.

Until we meet in Paris…