What is the secret of a 35 year-old real estate agency? Its property portfolio for sure, its sense of professionalism of course… But there is more to it. We met Françoise Maujean and Sophie Hardy from the Villa Vie agency to obtain the answer.
A human-sized agency
Some beautiful stories are the result of happenstance. This is something Françoise Maujean would certainly agree with. In the early ‘80s, when Mauritius was still preserved from mass tourism, Françoise Maujean started renting holiday homes.
First, she did so for friends who came to visit the island; then, to help out a relative who wanted to rent his beachfront villa; and eventually to help friends of friends…
That was how Villa Vie came into being. What started as an unassuming desire to be of service developed into a strong company – a pioneer in the holiday rental business.
Back then, Françoise Maujean did not have any experience in real estate. Owing to her sense of hospitality, her resourcefulness and the word of mouth magic, she succeeded in building a solid customer base and growing her business year after year, meanwhile managing the company with a steady hand.
Thirty years passed, during which the island experienced many changes and evolved into its current state. Travellers from all over the world discovered this little piece of heaven. The real estate market boomed and the competition increased. However, Villa Vie held its position. While the agency has long built its success and prestige on holiday rentals, the arrival of Sophie Hardy, Françoise’s daughter, in 2011 brought a new impulse to the company, with the addition of two services: long-term rental and property sale. Simultaneously, the company went digital, conducted strategic recruitment, implemented new procedures and increased its portfolio… The success story goes on!
Today, Villa Vie still thrives as a human-sized agency. Its golden rule, when it comes to real properties, is to favour quality over quantity. “A transaction is only successful when the client is satisfied,” explains Sophie Hardy. “Hospitality, kindliness, precision and punctuality are part of our values. We have a people- oriented approach and we treat our clients with deep respect.” Such integrity has earned them an established clientele of buyers, leaseholders and sellers, and has also allowed them to collaborate on several high-end projects while expanding their upmarket offers. It has been a successful journey and it will not stop there. With bright prospects for the year to come, needless to say that this is not the last we will hear of Villa Vie.
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