The Challenge
James and Sarah, a British family with two children, were relocating to Nice for James's new position at an international company. After 6 months of remote searching and two house-hunting trips, they were frustrated and exhausted.
The Problem with the Open Market
Every villa they liked faced the same issues:
- Multiple competing buyers from around the world
- Prices escalating well above asking price
- Decisions needed within 24-48 hours
- Properties selling before they could even view them
Their requirements were specific:
- 4+ bedrooms for the family and guests
- Pool and garden for the children
- Mont Boron or Cimiez neighbourhoods
- Budget: €1,800,000 maximum
- International school proximity
They had lost out on 3 properties already, each time being outbid or too slow.
Our Approach
As their exclusive buyer's agent, we implemented a different strategy: accessing the off-market.
What is Off-Market?
Off-market properties are those sold without public advertising:
- Sellers who value privacy (celebrities, business owners)
- Properties in pre-market phase before listing
- Owners testing the market discretely
- Estate sales or family situations requiring discretion
Our Network in Action
We activated our network of:
- 32 local estate agents who share pre-listings
- Notaires with knowledge of upcoming sales
- Property managers whose clients may sell
- Concierges and gardeners who hear of changes
- Other buyer's agents for referrals
Within 3 weeks, we had 4 potential off-market options.
The Discovery
The fourth property was exceptional: a 1930s villa in Mont Boron with:
- 280m² living space on 1,200m² of land
- 5 bedrooms, each with sea views
- Infinity pool overlooking the bay
- Recently renovated to high standards
- 10-minute walk to the international school
- Never listed — owner preferred private sale
Why Off-Market?
The owner was a French businessman relocating to Singapore. He didn't want:
- Estate agent commissions (saved ~5%)
- Public viewings disturbing his family
- Negotiation with multiple parties
- The stress of an open market sale
He preferred a single, qualified buyer for a clean transaction.
The Negotiation
Setting the Stage
We arranged a private viewing with just James, Sarah, and ourselves. No competing buyers, no pressure.
The owner's expectations:
- Asking: €1,900,000 (his assessment)
- Quick sale (wanted completion in 10 weeks)
- Serious buyer only
Our Strategy
We presented:
- Comparable sales data showing €1,750,000-1,850,000 range
- Mortgage pre-approval for €1,800,000
- Willingness to accept his timeline
- No contingencies on the sale
The Outcome
| Stage | Amount |
|---|
The owner accepted because:
- Certainty of sale (mortgage approved)
- No agent commission to pay
- Quick, professional transaction
- Privacy maintained
The Result
James and Sarah moved into their new home exactly 8 weeks after we first presented the property.
What They Gained
- €120,000 savings compared to asking price
- No bidding war stress — sole buyers
- Their exact requirements met
- Privacy — neighbours didn't know it was for sale
- Smooth transaction — motivated seller
What Could Have Been
Had they continued on the open market:
- More failed attempts and disappointment
- Likely settling for a less suitable property
- Paying premium prices in bidding wars
- Potential 6-12 more months of searching
Key Takeaways
For buyers seeking French Riviera properties:
- Off-market exists — 20-30% of premium sales never list publicly
- Relationships matter — agents with networks access these first
- Be buyer-ready — mortgage approval and funds in place
- Act decisively — off-market opportunities don't wait
- Use a buyer's agent — our job is to find what others can't
The Off-Market Advantage
| Open Market | Off-Market |
|---|
Ready to Access Off-Market?
Our network of contacts provides early access to properties before they hit the market. If you're searching for a specific property type, let us work our network for you.