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Testimonials from totallyRiviera's clients

We constantly add client's comments to our Happy Buyers page. Many of our previous buyers have provided written references for us, and have freely give their telephone numbers to us so that potential buyers may hear first hand about our service. Please feel free to ask if you wish to take us up on the latter. Here is what some of our buyers chose to say about TotallyRiviera: 

"A big thank you goes to all at TotallyRiviera for their help with a recent property purchase in Nice.  Having changed our requirements along the way all the stops were pulled out and their time spent guiding us through the process was very professional. Recommend this group, a dedicated team. But a special thanks to Kari Clouston. Great to work with you!"

The Fergusons, Ireland

"I think it is quite a tricky thing to buy a property on another country, even if you have come on holiday regularly to France and if you speak the language but there is always a horrible doubt that you might be ripped off as you don’t really know the system.

"I looked at property with 3 other agents and right from the start when I met Tristan, the atmosphere was altered from what had become quite frankly stressful, tiring and almost a chore, to a much calmer, actually pleasant experience. The pace was on the face of it more laid-back but in reality very efficient and business-like.

"We had been in email contact before my arrival as I didn’t have a long period of time to look at properties so it was very helpful to have had in-put from Tristan which helped me work out what my actual remit was. In reality, my original vague idea of a property with sea-view in Nice had been sharpened into the reality that we would want to rent out the property quite extensively until we can spend longer periods there ourselves and therefore it was important to think of the appropriate location, which in turn has proved to be the perfect location for us too!

"Every property fitted the remit and I feel that this is one of the key ways in which Totally Riviera are superior to other agents: nothing was over budget, every property was in the area we had  worked out together made sense and therefore there was no time wasted on either side: the properties all had something to recommend them.

"There was no pressure at any stage, which was a great help, yet as we wanted to move quickly once we had seen the apartment we wanted, Tristan organised the initial appointment with the Notaire (solicitor) at an impressive speed to fit in with our departure plans.

"The whole purchase has gone through quickly and easily and all the questions, fears and worries which we have passed on to the Totally Riviera team have been dealt with with good humour and efficiency. Extra help to sort out French banking, insurance, euro transfers, electricity connections , agents and web-sites for  property –renting have made the whole process as trouble-free as any purchase ever could be and I have to say that if you are seriously interested in buying property in this part of France, you could not make a better decision than to go with Totally Riviera."

Gill Rowley, Leeds
Property purchased on square Royale  

"Purchasing an apartment in Nice is without doubt the best thing we have ever done. It is a beautiful city with so much to do and a wonderful atmosphere and climate. 
 
"Totally Riviera enabled us to achieve this dream with the very minimum of stress to ourselves. Tristan and Kari were both on hand throughout the purchase to help with anything we required, in particular the prospective properties which they selected for us were very well tailored to our requirements. It was also great to deal with two such charming people and their excellent contacts making the whole process an enjoyable experience and one we will always have good memories of."

Kim Watkins, Bristol
Property purchased on rue Antoine Gautier

"We are a couple of jet-setters raising a sixteen year-old brat, juggling our demanding jobs, postgraduate education committments, love of travel and new discoveries. With our pace of life we made it clear from the beginning that we have only one day to choose a property and that we would like to see as many as possible. We did not have time for relaxing lunches and discussions which probably did not put us in the category of the most pleasant cutomers Totally Riviera has dealt with.

"We are happy to admit that any type of communication we had with the company wheher by email, telephone or in person upon arrival has been very efficient, professional and informative, providing enough space for us to reflect on and make our own decisions;any additional requests or questions we had, have been dealt with in a timely manner . All the flats that we saw met our basic requirements of space, location and budget . We think it is great that you can book a second viewing on Saturday with Totally Riviera, something that other agencies were not prepared to do. We have appreciated a lot Kari's tact and patience when he had to liase on our behalf with the seller and the notary to delay the signing of the purchase agreement as suddenly Jonathan had to go away on business with very little notice from his employer.

"The whole experience has been both fun and enjoyable as well as extremely professional in all aspects and, as a result, we are the owners of our lovely one bed flat in the old town, 10 min walk from the sea. We have recommended Totally Riviera already to our friends who are looking to buy a flat and a commercial property in Nice and would not hesitate to use them ourselves should we decide to buy or sell in the future."

Elena and Jonathan Edwards, London
Properrty purchased on boulevard Jean Jaures

"The prospect of purchasing property in a foreign country leaves most of us overwhelmed at the best of times, and France is no different where you almost expect to deal with someone with little or no grasp of English, and who is doing their utmost to rip you off!

"But right from the outset, my first contact with Tristan at Totally Riviera was a pleasure. I received an immediate response to my email enquiry, and I arrived in Nice to find he had anticipated all my needs in advance. Everything was properly organized so I hit the ground running, and in just two days I had settled on not one but two apartments!

"The professional and relaxed manner in which everything was handled made me feel at ease, not to mention meeting some nice friendly people with a real enthusiasm and passion for their work. No lies, half truths, or aggressive sales pitch, just straight honest talking in plain English. It’s nice to be able to sit back and relax, knowing you are in good hands, and just enjoy the ride.

"‘Totally’ sums up the service they provide rather well. I have never come across a real estate agent who is prepared to offer such a complete and personalized service. Picture this in addition to the normal services expected of a real estate agent – hotels were recommended and booked in advance of my visit; a French bank account was set-up; all utilities such as electricity, gas & water organized; regular follow-up with Notaire completed on my behalf; an introduction to various tradesmen; property management company and a mortgage broker. They have even been in contact to find out the progress of an apartment I am renovating, to see if they can assist in any way. And this is 4 months after I purchased the apartment!

"The feeling you come away with is that nothing is too much trouble for the team at Totally Riviera. The whole experience has been fantastic, and it’s also nice to have made some new friends along the way."

James Blewman, New Zealand
Properties purchased on rue de la Barrillerie and rue Centrale

"We had been thinking of purchasing in Nice for a while as we really love the city and its links to other great places like Villefranche, Antibes, Monaco, St Tropez and Cannes.

"With so many budget airlines flying from the UK to Nice in little over 1 1/2 hours we can be door to door in less than 4 hours.

"My Mother and father in law recommended TotallyRiviera as they had a fantastic experience with them in the past. They mainly dealt with Tristan who they said was knowledgable, honest and a very funny guy.

"He sent me lots of properties meeting our requirements but there was one that caught our eye straight away. It was a small apartment on Rue Bonaparte in the Port area. There was lots of interest in the apartment at the time, that's the problem with Nice, properties can go before they even hit the market. So I made a offer which was accepted and I was happy with it completing without even seeing it in the flesh. Tristan even went to the apartment on his day off and took a load of pictures of everything, even the streets surrounding the property and emailed them to me for peace of mind. He then persuaded me to come to Nice to make sure we made the right choice. He showed us a few more to compare, but we were still delighted with our original choice. Tristan introduced me to the Notaire (Stephanie) who spoke very good English and she sent me emails every week with progress reports.

"Tristan then put us onto a fantastic guy called Peter Brooke who was very quick and efficient in achieving us a french mortgage. With interest rates rising in the UK, the rate we achieved is nearly half of that on my home in England.

"We also had the pleasure in meeting Kari and also Dennis. These two are great guys and really know what they are doing. The biggest compliment i can give TotallyRiviera and Tristan inparticular is that when we buy next time it will be through them. They are not pushy at all, they don't need to be!

"If you are thinking of buying in Nice, do it now or you could miss the boat! Buy and you could be getting the boat to anywhere on the Côte d’Azur!"

Christian Fox, Leeds
Property purchased on rue Bonaparte "We had been talking vaguely about a property in France for years, but had not actually got around to doing anything about it. Then, last year we saw an article in the Sunday papers about Totally Riviera.

"Tristan returned our ‘phone call and instantly seemed to know what we were looking for, even if we didn’t. The rest, as they say is history, and we now have a lovely small flat one block from the sea, near the Negresco. The whole process from first viewing the flat to getting the keys took little more than two months.

"What else can we say about Totally Riviera?

They had an instinct for what suited us, and more importantly for what didn’t

They were friendly, informal and open

They were fully informed and gave us sound advice, without being pushy or ‘hard sell’

They are supreme networkers; if they didn’t know they knew a man who did

They were always very discreet and made it all seem very easy, so we are sure they worked very hard behind the scenes

They had innumerable contacts and sorted out potentially difficult negotiations with the immobilier, notaire, syndic, electricity company and probably many others

Our domestic French is reasonable, but when it comes to legaleese and bureaucracy we are hopeless, so it was a great relief that they arranged a translator for the formal completion meeting. The translator was not only an excellent linguist, having lived in France for many years, but also had intricate knowledge of the French conveyancing system

They had been a useful contact after the sale and continues to give us good advice

"Altogether Tristan and Totally Riviera made what could have been a complex and frustrating procedure, pleasant and simple."

Michael and Ginnie Grundman, Matlock
Property purchased on rue de France
"I can’t praise the guys at TotallyRiviera highly enough. Their knowledgeable, enthusiastic and competent team supported us at every stage of the buying process, and because they all speak English, we felt totally informed and comfortable throughout what otherwise might have been a very daunting and formidable task.

"From our very first contact with Kari and later Tristan, we felt totally at ease. There was no pushiness or hard sell, it was just like meeting up with a rather well informed friend for discussions about what type of apartment we might like, how much we could expect in rental income, what each area of the city was like etc etc

"Once we had found a place we really loved, Francois and Kari arranged a meeting with the developer and came along with us to help answer any questions and guide us through signing the contract. It was all very relaxed.

"Kari then took us to meet another Englishman in Nice – Peter Brooke. Peter is an extremely affable gentleman and a very good financial advisor. He set up a French bank account for us and also presented our financial affairs to the mortgage lender in the best possible way. It couldn’t have been easier, after an informal chat over a drink, he told us what documentation he needed, and we simply sent it over to him when we returned to England. We had the mortgage offer we wanted and the French account set up within a couple of weeks.

"TotallyRiviera’s help didn’t stop there though. When we couldn’t get back over to Nice to sign the contracts at the Notaire’s office, Tristan found a solicitor in Manchester for us, who was able to facilitate the signing of power of attorney documents, so that we could take possession of the apartment at our convenience. And when our flight was due to come in on a Sunday, Kari collected the keys on our behalf during the week, and drove to meet us on the Sunday afternoon in Nice, so that we could get into the apartment straight away. Talk about service!

"Once we were in, Tristan put us contact with everyone we needed, from cleaners, to property rental managers and handymen. It really is a complete service.

"There have been countless phone calls and emails that have gone to and fro, too numerous to mention in this short passage, and many of which have probably been trivial matters or daft questions by me, but they have always been met with good humour and sound advice.

"With TotallyRiviera’s service and the way they go about providing it, it really is just like ringing your mates in France whenever you need a problem solving.

"If anyone is thinking about buying a property in the south of France they have to talk to TotallyRiviera. This is a wonderful part of the world to own a property, why not make your experience of buying even more pleasurable by dealing with a top class outfit like the chaps here!"

Andrew Robinson & Alannah Ward, Manchester
Property purchased on boulevard Grosso
"We have just bought a flat in Nice with the help of Totally Riviera and, in particular, Tristan who followed our progress from beginning to end. Our experience was completely positive and we have nothing but praise for the way this agency operates.

"After visiting Nice last year we had some fairly vague plans about buying a place there and came across the Totally Riviera website by accident. This proved to be a Godsend. Through the website we were able to get a clear idea about what sort of apartments were available and at what price and we also established contact with Tristan.

"He answered our initial questions, found out what we were looking for and drew up a shortlist of suitable places to see. We were then able to arrange dates and times for viewing the properties. All of this would have been much more difficult to organize by working through the local agencies. We also visited one or two well-known local agencies but found that the range of properties that they had on offer was more limited and communication was much more complicated, especially when trying to buy from abroad, and not only because of the difference in language.

"Tristan has been extremely friendly and helpful at all times, always available to respond to questions and doubts, always ready with good advice and never pushy or just trying to make a sale. The experience has been more like one of having the help of a knowledgeable friend than of dealing with an "agent". And even after concluding the sale he is still there to help out with bureaucracy and any little problems that crop up."

"For anyone looking to buy a place in Nice, I would have no hesitation in recommending Totally Riviera."

Kiaran O'Malley, Milan
Property purchased on rue Marechal Joffre
"What can we say? The guys at TotallyRiviera are exceptional. They are an extremely valuable resource with an encyclopaedic knowledge and contagious enthusiasm for Nice and its environs.

"From our first contact by email, Dennis took our request seriously, responding with realistic and honest opinions of our expectations. We then met with Tristan, who came up with eight possibilities that matched our requirements; he took us to visit them all that very day. What could have been a sales pitch was more a private guided tour of Nice! That day we found exactly what we were looking for, a bijou studio with balcony right by Place Rossetti: TotallyRiviera then got even better.

"The team were with us through the whole process, using their various areas of expertise and great contacts. Whatever we needed, they were always available, interested, very obliging and with tons of information and suggestions. This didn't end when the contracts were signed, either. They are proud of their aftercare and for us it has been invaluable. We still get the same affable and personalised attention as when we first contacted them.

"TotallyRiviera is a brilliant concept, brilliantly executed. We could never have been as confident and happy about our investment without their excellent advice. Without reservation we recommend them most highly and extend to them our deepest thanks. Respect!"

Troy and Laura Jones, Kent
Property purchased on rue du Pont Vieux

"If you think living in the UK and buying in Nice is daunting, try doing it across the Atlantic! As ex-pats living in Canada, we were keen to purchase a place in Europe where we could meet up with family and friends. But it was not going to be easy....no chance of quick trips over to nice to look at properties, a five hour time difference, and 3 demanding daughters with definite ideas as to what would be cool!

"Enter Tristan and his colleagues at Totally Riviera, helpful advice, lots of emails, just two trips, and we had found 'the one'. Our brief was clear; a place close to the beach, must have a balcony and, of course, the lift was mandatory. Somehow Tristan saw through all of that.

"After Francois and he had showed us several places that fit the brief, Tristan suggested we have a look at an apartment he thought we would like.....close to Place Garibaldi, no balcony to speak of, on the 3rd floor and no lift!We were smitten with the place....the whole floor of a Nicois building with ceilings taller than we had ever seen, completely renovated while maintaining its character...we had to have it.

"Amazingly, this Transatlantic purchase was the most straightforward of any of our previous house purchases. With Tristan coordinating notary, surveyor and vendor, and Peter Brooke setting up a French bank account, the whole process was quick, easy and painless...why can't that happen in the UK?

"And it hasn't stopped there, despite having the sale in the bag Totally Riviera still go the extra mile, putting us in touch with an ex-pat builder for some minor reno's, and arranging to put the apartment on the website for rental. We cannot compliment them enough."

Andrew and Mary Redington, Toronto, Canada
Property purchased on rue Delfy

"Totally Riviera - totally great! Sounds somewhat glib, but in reality I would find it hard to fault the service we received from all the team at Totally Riviera, and in fairness, we are very fussy.

"Why Nice? Because we believe it has everything to offer, and more. Great food and wine, Fantastic weather, Culture, Celebrities, French/Italian flare - and access to some of the most beautiful coastline in the world.

"Why Own? Because we have high expectations and when we holiday we want to feel 'at home' and not have to spend hours trying to find the ideal place (and often be disappointed) - we have created our own!

"Why the decision to invest overseas? We have several investment properties in the UK already, but feel that the French Riviera, and Nice in particular, is highly likely to see exceptional growth over the next few years, it has all year round rental potential and we can enjoy the benefits (free holidays) in the meantime.

"Why Totally Riviera? Because from the very first phone call we were 'handled' in a caring and professional way - the support and help we received was truly exceptional.

"We gave a very clear brief as to what we wanted, we then selected around thirty apartments we felt were worthy of inspection, after extensive helpful discussions with Dennis and Tristan we narrowed this down to circa fifteen and then on a single trip viewed fourteen apartments over three days (I think we might just hold the record). We were met at the hotel, personally taken around all the apartments and ultimately made a purchase. As an evidence of the attention to detail - we actually ended up purchasing the very first apartment we had viewed which indicated how careful the team are in meeting the clients' needs. Needless to say we are delighted.

"In summary the process was; easy, enjoyable and very successful - we would have no hesitation in endorsing all of the team at Totally Riviera."

Ian Wrigley, Cornwall
Property purchased on rue Paul Deroulade

"As we write this my wife, Libby and I are drinking a bottle of pink champagne to celebrate completing the purchase today of our new apartment in Nice. From our initial tentative enquiry to the web site number late on a Sunday evening in April to completion today (3 months in all) the experience has been an absolute pleasure.

"The reason for this was that we were fortunate enough to have involved the guys at Totally Riviera right from the start. Starting with Dennis' old world antipodean charm and honesty (can Australians really be charming?) in his advise as to which areas we might want to live in. Tristan's youthful enthusiasm and joy of all things Nice (nothing being too much trouble). Francois's professionalism and Peters' excellent financial contacts.

"The whole journey seems to have had all the pain and hassle removed. We have really enjoyed our trips to view and organise, sitting in the street cafes with Tristan planning and organising everything in a relaxed manner (bit like one of those Location, Location programmes). Libby and I would just like to say a huge thank you to all concerned but especially Tristan.

"But it doesn't stop here the team at Totally Riviera are now helping us to organise furniture and utilities as well as helping with the management of the apartment for the future. How lucky were we to meet these guys at the start?"

Ian and Libby Lawson, Hartlepool
Property purchased on rue Berlioz

"The help we received from Totally Riviera made the purchase of our apartment on the Port a simple process. From our first contact with Dennis and Tristan, through well chosen viewings, to completion and afterwards, the advice and assistance has been invaluable. 

"There was no hard sell, just honest straightforward advice. We never imagined buying a property abroad could be so stress-free. The fact we now own a great apartment in our favourite City is due to Dennis, Tristan and the team."

Phil and Sarah Bolton, Preston
Property purchased on quai des Deux Emmanuels

"Lisa and I live in Dublin, Ireland, and wanted to invest in a rental property in the south of france. We set ourselves a budget and researched the web to find agents locally in Nice and the surrounding area. Our aim was to find a property to rent and pay for itself all year round, but could do short term summer rentals if we wanted to. 

"We travelled in early October and visited 7 properties over 3 days. The most helpful agent was Tristan from Totally Nice, who organised for us to see 5 properties in the old part of Nice within our budget. We met Tristan and viewed the properties. After we discussed the viewings over coffee and put an offer in, which was accepted. 

"Tristan led us through the process, explaining the legals (notaire), agents, rental agents, banks etc and introduced us to ones he could trust. He also gave us advise about what to look for in the property for renting. The process couldn't have been easier and I would recommend anyone interested in a property in Nice to talk to Tristan, it was like being on the tv show 'a place in the sun'."

Darren and Lisa Lynch, Dublin
Property purchased on rue de la Prefecture


"We've been visiting Nice and the rest of this amazing coastline for nearly 10 years. We never dreamed that one day we could own a little piece of what has become a haven for us.

"We first read about TotallyRiviera in an article in the Guardian about 2 years ago. We decided to give them a go along with three or four other agents who (seemingly) offered the same service. Firstly, most of those other agents weren't particularly interested in us as we didn't have mega-bucks to spend. Those that did persevere were pushy beyond belief! One hard-sell entailed us being followed into breakfast at our hotel one morning to ask whether or not we'd made a decision! We had; we told her to get lost!

"And then there was TotallyRiviera. Friendly, patient beyond all reasonable expectation (believe me, we took a long time to make a decision!), full of humour, well-informed and well-connected. Totally Riviera aren't just about the sale, they do after care as well! They put us in touch with people to service the apartment and an electrician; they even did some furniture removals with us!

"We feel that even if we hadn't bought from them, Tristan and Dennis would still have become our friends. They're great guys running a great company in a great part of the world."

Doug Elgin and Glenn Dumbhall, Liverpool
Property purchased on rue de la Croix


"I'll start this testimonial in a chronologically reverse order. Tristan and Dennis came to our wedding celebrations in Nice, about 8 months and 25 viewings after we first met them, as we now count them both as good friends. On the same weekend as our wedding, we exchanged on a beautiful apartment in the Old Town, that delivered almost totally against the brief we had given them at the start of the process.

"Tris was there with us in the notary's office on the day of completion, having made things easier for us by introducing the notary to us in the first place. Prior to that we made 4 or 5 trips to Nice, and on each occasion had worked with Tris & Dennis to set up a schedule of viewings that all looked good to hit our very fussy criteria.

"On each occasion, our view that 'this one is too light, too dark, too small, too big, too new, too old' was met with the patience of a saint and an understanding that buying an apartment in France was a huge step for us. On the first visit, we concluded things by sharing a bottle of wine and a pizza and started it by having a coffee with Dennis in his flat. Our first email to totallyriveria came as a result of a Google search and from the first, quick reponse, I knew we were going to get along.

"Suspend your preconceptions about estate agents, and even then don't put these guys into that bracket. They are as trustworthy as you'd want them to be and will do exactly what they say they will in order to find you the home you're looking for."

Lawrence Bleach, London
Property purchased on rue Miralheti


"For many years we have been visiting Nice, having first fallen in love with the place in the early 1990s. We had dreamed of owning an apartment there but, even though our French is reasonable, didn't feel quite confident enough to just walk into a French agency and start the ball rolling, let alone do things by phone.

"Because we'd read that the financial side of things should be ready-ish before looking at property, we had already applied for a French bank account in Nice (via our bank in the UK) and also started off our French mortgage application via our broker in the UK.

"It just remained to find a property!!

"When browsing the net one Sunday afternoon we came across TOTALLY RIVIERA, and saw that they had a number of interesting and affordable properties on their site. We fired off a quick email and got a very swift reply from Tristan. After exchanging a few emails re properties on the website vis a vis our requirements, Tristan set up some viewings.

"We arrived on the first Easy jet flight one Thursday in April and Tristan came round to our hotel to meet us. After a relaxing lunch over which we talked in more detail about what we wanted, we started our viewings - all in our price range with no time wasting appointments at all. That afternoon and the following morning we must have seen some 10 properties - some of them twice! As is so often the case, the first one we saw was the one for us, so as soon as our plane had touched down in London on the following day, we phoned Tristan and told him we'd like to make an offer. We were so impressed that he had spent so much time with us, given that we were under no obligation to buy anything at all, and at no time felt under pressure.

"Being very cautious, we wanted to arrange a survey ourselves, which is unusual in France, apparently. Tristan helpfully liaised with & met our surveyor at the property. He also recommended a Notaire to us, a very helpful and efficient gentleman, who speaks good English.

"We signed our Compromis de Vente on April 21st and completed on June 21st. Throughout the whole process, Tristan patiently dealt with our queries, helped with insurance, liaised with the vendor and was generally on hand to give advice.

"We are thrilled with our apartment, and we would recommend Tristan and Totally Riviera to anyone.

Marcus Savage, London
Property purchased on place Garibaldi


"I had visited Nice five times last year and thought it was time I looked at property. I found the Totally Riviera web-site by chance and was intrigued. My request for information was responded to promptly and pretty soon I was flying down to view some places.

"Tristan met my dad and I at our hotel and we were off and running. We viewed a number of apartments but I fell in love with one. Following some very welcome advice on price from Tristan, my offer was accepted the following day.

"The rest of the process was stress free and so straight forward, due to the help and assistance that Tristan provided. What was reassuring was he was always available to offer help and advice before, during and after the sale. Totally Riviera have been professional and enthusiastic throughout and made my first flat purchase in Nice a great fun experience!"

Karen Roberton, London
Property purchased on rue Emma et Phillipe Tiranty


"I was nervous of buying property in France and wary of French estate agents having tried them and had problems with them failing to turn up for meetings. And telling me, after I'd travelled to France to see a particular property, that it had been sold weeks ago but they'd show me some other things.

"The guys at Totally Riviera, however, turned up when they said they would, took the trouble to look for what I asked them for, communicated with me, found me a property that I wanted and then helped me through the process of buying by providing both information and introductions to relaible people in France.

"I found Totally Riviera's service straight speaking and very helpful. At the end of the day they found me a plum of an apartment in my price range of which I am now the proud owner."

Andrew Inglis, London
Property purchased on rue de la Poissonerie


"We felt that TotallyRiviera listened to what we said we were looking for, which meant that when we arrived we were presented with a selection of apartments that were all of interest. The walk around town and the viewings were relaxed and we were able to go at our own pace. Tristan showed us around, he was attentive and friendly, we were at our ease very quickly.

"Once we saw our apartment we knew this was the one we wanted, from then until now TotallyRiviera have been there to answer our questions, to introduce us to a Financial Advisor and to Builders for the refurbishment project. I absolutely recommend TotallyRiviera, they made it so much easier for us than it would be without their local insight and support."

Bill James and Karen Westaway, Henley
Property purchased on place du Palais

"I went to Nice for a few days to do some work and came back with a great two bedroom flat in the Musiciens quarter of Nice. All thanks to Tristan and TotallyRiviera who were totally brilliant.

"The nice thing about TotallyRiviera is that they are honest, genuine authentic people who don't go in for the usual estate agent bull****! Totally the opposite in fact! Tristan and Dennis actually tell you what they think, and give genuine advice. So that rare thing - estate agents who listen to you, try to help you and are totally honest. And fun too!"

Mike Brent, Berkhamsted
Property purchased on avenue Durante

"I am very satisifed with my apartment that I bought through Totally Riviera. It was my first time buying a property, and especially since it was in France, I was feeling a little nervous about it, but Tristan was very helpful and available through the whole process.

"He found what I was looking for, and explained clearly and honestly, which made me feel secure. I also have to say he was very patient, he was still arriving with a big smile when I wanted to see the apartment for the fourth time, trying to make up my mind! After the final signing, they have showed a great deal of service helping me finding trustworthy electricians etc...and Dennis taking great pictures for the website. I am very pleased with Totally Riviera and can absolutely recommend them."

Inga Nilson, Bergen, Norway
Property purchased on rue de la Loge 

"I am not new to buying property in France and I speak the language but in all honesty my TotallyRiviera experience was by far the most efficient, professional, helpful and enjoyable, yes enjoyable. I spoke with Tristan on the Tuesday, flew down Thursday evening, met Tristan for coffee on the Friday morning, fell in love with the first of three apartments we viewed, relaxed over a delicious lunch accompanied by a lovely bottle of Cotes de Provence Rose, made an offer Friday afternoon and celebrated with Champagne when offer was accepted at approximately 7pm the Friday evening. I met with Dennis on the Saturday to sign the Compromis and flew back to London that evening.

"Eight weeks later I was officially the proud owner of a beautiful flat in the old town of Nice, as easy as buying a new dress! The TotallyRiviera gang are unique, they genuinely care about their clients, none of this "estate agent" insincere talk. They bend over backwards to aid and assist with mortgages, plumbers, decorators you name it they can help. A truly class act. "

Sue Phillips, London
Property purchased on rue Alexandre Mari

"We found your service super; the website is a class act.
 
"Your friendly informal and very helpful assistance was most valuable, including recommendations of mortgage brokers and rental agents.
 
"We would not hesitate to recommend you or indeed use to your services again ourselves."

Nick Davenport, Lake District
Property purchased on rue Benoit Bunico

"We found TotallyRiviera made trying to buy a flat in Nice a virtually painfree experience. Tristan and Dennis gave us efficient, reliable, reassuring and friendly service.

"They actually listened to what we had asked for and gave us a well-organised day of property searching. And on a Saturday too when you might have rather not been working. As well as all this you have given, and are continuing to give, wonderful post-purchase attention. We can't sing you praises highly enough. Thank you."

Elizabeth Brown, Surrey
Property purchased on rue Halevy

"It's always been a dream of ours to buy a second home in the South of France and now we have to keep reminding ourselves that it isn't a dream anymore and we really own one!!! I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't have happened, and definitely wouldn't have gone so smoothly, if we hadn't have met Tristan and Dennis from Totally Nice. We were quite sceptical at first when we randomly came across their website and sent them an email. Our worries were completed unnecessary, they were extremely helpful but not at all pushy, so we took our chances and arranged to meet Tristan in the centre of Nice to start our property search. From finding us somewhere to stay and organising our viewings, through to nearly one year later, accompanying us at the signing of our contract with the Notaire and advising us on the renovation work in our lovely new apartment!

"We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, they've been absolutely brilliant! It's been the most exciting year ever and we've loved every minute of it. Thanks guys!!"

Lucy Sainsbury and Stuart Bryant, London
Property purchased on rue du Pont Vieux

"I started to look for properties in Nice through Totally Nice in February, as being half French, I wanted to relocate to France. But then I was promoted in my job in the UK and I decided to stay there. But I could never quite put Nice totally out of my mind!

"On holiday in Nice in June, I idly scrolled through the list of properties on the Totally Nice website on Tristan's laptop. I spotted a gorgeous little apartment for only ?94,000! I pestered Tristan to show me it. Once inside the flat, I fell in love with it right away. Though it was up 5 flights of very steep stairs, the sun flooded in through the big windows and there were stunning views of the colline and the sea from the bedroom. I knew that it would make the perfect investment and I just had to have it!

"Later on that day Tristan suggested I speak to Peter Brooke, a mortgage advisor. Peter told me that he would be able to find me a mortgage to suit my needs. The next day I was raring to go to the estate agent and put in my offer. "Don't you want to see the apartment again?" asked Tristan. The answer was a resounding "No!" I had never before been so sure that I was onto a good thing. So I put in my offer of ? 85,000. But I had to wait for an answer.

"I had to leave for the UK the next day, and as I was waiting for my bags at Baggage Reclaim at Stansted, my mobile rang. It was Tristan. "The vendor will accept ?86,800!" I was over the moon and couldn't stop squealing. People stared, but I didn't care! I'd gone away for a holiday and came home with a property!

"Totally Nice found me a notaire to handle my purchase. All I had to do now was wait until the signing date! I signed the Acte Authentique on the 13th September and at last the apartment was mine. But it wasn't all over just yet. I had just seven days in which to clean the apartment, furnish it completely, get a plumber to make plumbing for a washing machine and find a tenant! No mean feat but I managed it with a little help from my friends!

"There have been many highs and lows to buying a property on the French Riviera. When I found out that the plumber Tristan had recommended could do the job the very next day, I was delighted. You don't get that in the UK! And when the tenant I'd found loved the house almost as much as I did, and wanted to sign the rental contract the very same day - that was a high! The worst low must have been being told by the delivery men that the lovely bed I had ordered wouldn't fit up the 5 flights of stairs. Receiving the sorry news was made all the worse by the fact that I had the world's worst hangover and I could barely move, let alone make a rational decision!

"I know I have been incredibly lucky with my property purchase, and a lot of it has been down to Tristan and Dennis. Aside from being great fun, they always know someone 'who can' and everyone they have introduced me to has been more than helpful.

"Totally Nice totally made it happen for me. thank you so much guys!"

Iona Connor, London
Property purchased on Place du Gesu


"We had been visiting Nice for 10 years and our dream was to buy a pied a terre in the old town, but lack of time meant that we got no further than looking in the estate agents windows until we found the totallyNice website on Google and arranged to meet Tristan on our next visit to view some properties.

"We did not find an apartment first time, mainly because we had not quite decided on our budget and priorities, but thanks to Tristan's invaluable advice (and patience!) we returned a couple of months later and saw a number of 'possibles' including the apartment we eventually bought in a 17th century building on rue Benoit Bunico.

"Again, Tristan helped us enormously in negotiating with the seller, dealing with the Notaire and opening a French bank account, all of which would have been much more stressful without his contacts and local knowledge. He even advised us of the best places to shop for inexpensive antiques! We completed in July and are thrilled to have our own bolthole in such a great city.

"Tristan and Dennis have become friends and continue to assist with anything from finding local contractors to keeping an eye on the apartment when we are away."

Carole and Kevin Keaney, Manchester
Property purchased on rue Benoit Bunico

"From our first meeting with Tristan we felt completely at ease and in the company of someone extremely pleasant, helpful amd whom we could trust. Our  initial confidence was not misplaced. There was no element of 'hard sell', nothing was pressed upon us, what we wanted was what counted, and nothing was too much trouble.

"After we had been shown numerous apartments we made our choice. But we were innocents abroad, with scarcely a word of French between us. How were we going to cope with the intricacies of buying in France, with its different ways of proceeding, and its own niceties of legal requirements?

"No problem! We were not alowed to flounder in an ocean of foreign customs and demands. Tristan was always at hand, and had the remarkable quality of  making you feel that whatever your enquiry, and however much you felt that you were wasting his time, you were actually doing him a favour! He should bottle this ability and market it.

"I don't know how many clients totallyNice has, but Tristan makes you feel that you are the only one, and that his reputation rests precariously in your hands. We are totally satisfied with a company that is 'Totally Nice' in every sense."

Owen and Dilys Milton, Cardiff
Property purchased on rue de la Prefecture

"I live in Dubai in the Arab Emirates, and had been thinking of investing in the South of France for about 18 months. It wasn't until I spoke to totallyNice that things started to happen. I received email updates on properties that the team thought might interest me and with a list in my pocket I flew to Nice and purchased within three days.

"After my departure the totallyNice guys organised renovation work on the apartment. A great way to do business."

Stephen Marney, Dubai
Property purchased on rue du Marche

"The idea of buying a property in Nice can be so seductive. When you think about it, it's all about the food and the weather really, isn't it? Nice is just so damn.nice, and when there's no reason not to treat yourselves, why hold back? You talk it over, work out what you can afford, then talk it over a lot more before convincing yourselves that that perfect flat - minutes from the beach in one direction and the best food you've ever eaten in the other - is only one quick visit away.

"Problems begin though once you get on the Internet and start wondering just how many estate agents there can be in one city. Next, you find out how little information you can expect from any of them. Emails remain answered. Your French isn't good enough to ask all the questions you want to on the phone, even if the agents want to give you the answers. Before long, you've decided to cut to the chase, get on that cheap flight and spend a day or two trawling the agencies to nail the flat of your dreams.

"Then you wonder where you're going to start. You might pick an agent specialising in your preferred area, but it's all hit-and-miss really. You get precious little information and far too many of the agents want to show you properties just over your budget, hoping that a really smart one will hook you in. The choices are bewildering, the stresses boil up and anxiety takes a hold. Before long, you're plodding the streets of Nice, stopping at dozens of windows and spending hours arranging viewings of flats you're never going to buy, with an agent who doesn't really understand what you want.

"That is where the scourge of all spellcheckers, totallyNice, comes in. Spend long enough on the Internet looking for properties in Nice and you fall over them before long. Run by ex-pat former journalists Tristan Rutherford and Dennis Broadfield, they offer a package of support and communication that smoothes over more of the inherent problems in property buying in Nice than you'd believe possible. Unique amongst property agencies in Nice, they also don't charge a penny as their cut comes from the agents. It all seemed too good to be true, but we couldn't really see a downside.

"We dealt with Tristan. We gave him an idea of what we wanted, our budget, and the areas of Nice we were interested in. He did the legwork and came up with a short list to match our spec, and an itinerary of viewings to fit into a one-day visit. We went for two and filled the second day with repeat viewings and honing down our final decision. That was it, and with less stress than we had ever managed during previous failed trips, we surely had our dream flat - a four bedroom duplex smack in the middle of the old town with a statue or two of a bishop for company and a view over a bustling square. Tristan handled all the communication with the agents and we went home happy, waiting for the legal bit to start up.

"A few days later, the building society dropped a bombshell, relenting on previous assurances and refusing our loan. It was back to square one. Badly disappointed, we gave Tristan the bad news, and he told the agent. She was furious, but he stayed cool and we started all over again with a different plan and a much-reduced budget.

"Trip two introduced us to a new set of properties, and we didn't take long to choose a tiny studio this time - four floors up with no lift, but a great view from its balcony. A couple of months later, the Notaire eventually got our details right and, after a short but delightful ceremony at her office, the flat was ours. We found an English builder on the Internet and put him to work on the refurbishment. Two or three more trips later, all the work was done, and we had our own bolthole on the Riviera, with mortgage payments we could afford without having to rent out the flat, something we would have had to do with Plan A. Had it all been really that easy?

"In truth, it was Tristan who made the whole thing much easier and a lot less stressful and, on top of everything, it really hadn't cost us a penny. It made a big difference knowing there was someone on the ground on our side that we could trust, and who took care of so many minor problems. He's more than earned the meal and the few beers we've shared together over the past few months.

"At the end of the day, it's hard to imagine why anyone would choose not to use totallyNice when buying, particularly in the old town, where they have near blanket coverage. They knock off all the rough edges around acquiring a property and they know the systems well. They're very easy to deal with and - most welcoming of all - don't see you as some other punter to be ripped off, unlike many businesses in Nice who can dive in all too often.

"In fact, try as I might, I can't think of a single complaint. If you're buying in Nice, it would seem foolish not to give totallyNice a chance."

Peter and Sue Corbett, Liverpool
Property purchased on rue Rossetti

"The guys were brilliant from start to finish. Professional, slick and genuinely nice people. As a Director of my own firm I'm extremely busy and I could not have done this without Den and Tristan helping with the organisation. They even went as far as to open a HSBC account for me, hire a van and driver, and find me a translator for my final signing in Grasse.

"I didn't find the exact place I was looking for on the first visit from Liverpool as the area of the Old Town didn't suit me. We changed the brief for the second visit and looked more in the Bl Victor Hugo and Promenade areas where I found the place I wanted."

Jo Winnard, Blackpool
Property purchased on boulevard Gambetta


"We came upon totallyNice by chance - just by searching for properties to buy on Google. I have to say I was slightly sceptical at first. I am always nervous about people promising to do things for me that won't cost me a penny!

"However, my scepticism was entirely misplaced. Dennis and Tris took on board the detailed specification we put together. We visited Nice for a weekend and they took us to see eight properties, seven of which were absolutely on specification. We really liked a couple of the apartments but thought one in particular looked like a bargain so we decided to put in an offer straight away.

"And this is where totallyNice really proved their worth because they thought it looked like a bargain as well, but perhaps too good to be true. They made some enquiries in the neighbourhood and found there had been a big fire in the apartment and that the builder who had renovated it afterwards was not prepared to guarantee the condition of the property.

"Rather than taking their commission and running, Dennis called us straight away and told us that his advice was not to buy. We found his honesty very reassuring. We then put in an offer for the other apartment we liked, which was accepted. totallyNice recommended an excellent Notaire to work for us and the purchase went through without a hitch.

"Since then they've also helped us get insurance, hire vans, buy furniture, find a handyman to do odd jobs and maintain the apartment for us and shown us where to buy the best wine, cheese and charcuterie in Nice! The best thing is we know that if we have a problem, Dennis and Tris are right there in Nice just a phone call away and always willing to help and advise."

Ian and Kate Simpson, London
Property purchased on rue Marechal Joffre

 
The fall and rise of buying in Nice Old Town by Chris and David Wheater
Saturday 13 November 2004
We spend a pleasant and interesting day with Tristan in the back streets of the Old Town looking at 7 or 8 properties that fitted our brief but weren't quite right. At five o'clock we sit disconsolately looking out over the Baie des Anges reviewing what we have seen but deciding that none of them was exactly what we were looking for. Tristan phones us to say that he has the key to one of the properties we had planned to visit on Monday. We agree to take a look. Before I even enter the apartment my son, who went in first, exclaims 'This is it!'.

Sunday 14 November 2004
We have a day off. Breakfast in France, morning coffee in Italy, lunch in Monte Carlo and dinner back in France. Over dinner we decide that we don't need to see any more properties but need a second look at the last apartment we saw yesterday. We contact Tristan and tell him.

Monday 15 November 2004
A second look at 'our' apartment and we decide to visit the Estate Agency to make our offer. The agent says that there might be a problem because the apartment is not really on the market yet!

The following week
Messages between the agent, and Tristan and us. One of the vendors, one of the partners of the couple who own the apartment, has agreed to sell but the other is out of contact. After over a week of waiting they decide not to sell! Tristan's comments are not repeatable and we feel dreadful.

Tuesday 30 November 2004
A phone call from Tristan and the agent who tells us that the vendors have decided to accept our offer after all!

Friday 25 February 2005
Finally visit the Notaire for the 'Acte Authentique' and get the keys to the door. Our thanks to our new neighbour Tristan at totallyNice for all his help and sympathy. We could not have done it without him.

David, Margaret, Chris, Becky and Tim Wheater, Rotherham (and Nice)
Property purchased on Rue Rossetti


"It is not often in life that you can make a purchase that satisfies both the heart and the head, but buying in Nice's Old Town has done both. I now have my own slice of romantic Riviera life - all shuttered windows and wonderful views - while still satisfying my need for a sound property investment in an appreciating area.

"What made the process all the better was the service and attention I received from the totallyNice team. I was met by one of the Directors, Tristan Rutherford, who proved to be both a great source of local information, and an enjoyable guide. Tres bon all-round."

Michael Furniss, Staffordshire,
Property purchased on rue St Josephe

"We fell in love with Nice on our first trip in July 2004 and on our return home began to look, initially out of curiosity, at properties in the area on the Internet. It was while doing this that we came across the totallyNice website, which we found extremely informative. In a rash moment, we emailed an enquiry into the likelihood of being able to find a property within our price range in the Old Town.

"Tristan's reply was prompt, down to earth (we couldn't really expect to find somewhere with a balcony for what we could afford) and dangerously encouraging! We decided that we would like to view some apartments (just to get a feel of what was on offer) and Tristan arranged a Saturday viewing itinerary for us at short notice in October. We had a wonderful day looking at different properties which had been carefully matched to our criteria and at the same time benefited from Tristan's "insiders' guide" to Nice.

"We fell in love with a wonderful light and airy studio on the rue Droite at first sight, and Tristan was happy to accommodate a second viewing to confirm what we thought, even suggesting a third visit in the evening when it was dark to see if we still felt the same. This we did after enjoying a glass of wine with Tristan at a local bar.

"The advice we received was sensible and at no time were we under any pressure. In fact, Tristan was at pains to prevent us rushing into anything before we had thought it over carefully - too late, however, as we were completely hooked! As soon as we got home we emailed to ask him to make an offer on our behalf and were thrilled to receive an email back the following day to say that our offer had been accepted.

"During the process of completing the purchase of the studio, Tristan was unfailingly helpful, chasing up things in Nice on our behalf, offering advice and answering the bizarre questions that kept occurring to us - including 'there's no letterbox, how does the postman deliver the mail? (The answer was surprising!) The moment when the initially very tentative dream became a reality and we collected the keys to our property was magical.

"If we had not come across totallyNice, we are sure that our second home in Nice would have remained a fantasy. We cannot recommend them highly enough. See you in Nice!"

Vincent and Angela Holt, Leeds
Property purchased on rue Droite


"I have holidayed in the South of France for several years and I love old Nice. Everything is on your doorstep from cafes to markets to beaches. I was amazed at the cheap price of houses and apartments here, which persuaded me to invest.

"When you go into a French estate agents you often have to wait around, be shown tat, and they can't answer your questions on rental incomes, mortgage repayments, transferring money from abroad etc· The team at totallyNice could answer these queries, and they got my specifications just right when I told them what I was looking for. They even helped find me a mortgage, insure my apartment, get rental guests in and help me knock a wall down! As far as I'm aware, no one else offers this product on the Cote d'Azur, let alone in Nice."

Constantine Azar, London
Property purchased on rue St Francois


"With the UK housing boom over I looked abroad to invest. The Sunday papers told me about totallyNice so I telephoned Dennis, one of the partners, with my spec. They emailed back a list of properties within budget (and none over budget as some agents do!) with details on each one, right down to what was happening on each street.

"Being freelance, I hope to work in London three days a week then commute on the cheap easyJet flights. You can do the trip in a couple of hours if you have access to Luton, Stansted or Gatwick. I also hope to rent my place and swap it with family and friends who have second homes themselves."

Samantha Jacob, London
Property purchased on place Rossetti