Frequently Asked Questions
About Seine & Sea
Seine & Sea is a family-owned boutique agency founded by Ilse Legros, an American citizen living in Normandy and supported by her husband Kenny. We are deeply rooted in Normandy. Kenny was born and raised in Honfleur, and we are currently based in the historic heart of the Seine Valley near Rouen. Our bilingual team combines local heritage with international standards of service to provide a truly personal property management experience.
Yes, our agency is fully bilingual. We act as your English-speaking voice in France, removing the language barrier that often complicates property management for international owners. We handle everything from French administrative paperwork to technical briefings with local craftsmen.
Unlike large, impersonal corporations, a boutique agency like Seine & Sea offers dedicated attention and unmatched responsiveness. We limit the number of properties we manage to ensure each estate receives our personal oversight. You don’t deal with a call center; you deal directly with us, your local partners on the ground.
Everything starts with a conversation. We invite you to schedule a private consultation where we can discuss your property’s specific needs and your vision. From there, we build a bespoke management plan tailored to your lifestyle and your home’s requirements.
The Pharos Membership
It is our signature stewardship program. Just as a lighthouse guides and protects, Pharos provides a constant, professional presence for your estate. It includes your monthly Pharos Report, key-holding, and preferred rates on all additional services.
During the Pharos visit, we perform a visual check of roofing, facades, windows, and gutters, a room-by-room ventilation and a post-storm debris or damage assessment. We also search for water leaks, humidity levels, and signs of pest activity. We test your alarm and verify all entry points. We collect your mail for later scanning, forwarding, and translating if necessary. Once our visit is completed, you receive a digital report including time-stamped photos, professional observations, and maintenance recommendations.
Yes. We offer on-demand services for one-off needs (like a post-storm check or house opening). However, members enjoy 50% lower rates and priority scheduling. If you plan on visiting your home at least twice a year, the membership usually pays for itself.
No two estates in Normandy are the same. Our pricing is calculated objectively based on your property type, whether you have a garden to oversee, and your location, which helps to calculate transportation costs. This ensures you pay a fair price tailored specifically to your property’s needs.
No. We don’t believe in rigid, multi-year lock-ins. Instead, we focus on maintaining a high-performance partnership that aligns with your property’s best interests. We want you to keep working with us because you value the peace of mind we provide.
Our Geographic Reach
We provide comprehensive property management across the key prestige areas of Normandy. This includes the Côte Fleurie (Deauville, Trouville, Honfleur), the Alabaster Coast (Étretat, Dieppe, Varengeville-sur-Mer), the Vexin Normand (Lyons-la-Forêt), and the entire Seine Valley (Rouen, Vernon & Giverny).
Yes. We specialize in both urban residences and secluded countryside estates. Whether you own a half-timbered house in the forest of Lyons or a riverside manor in the Seine loops near Jumièges or Sahurs, our local network extends to these exclusive rural enclaves.
The Art of Stewartship & Remote Care
Trust is built on transparency and local presence. We provide regular, detailed “Eyes & Ears” reports, photo updates, and clear communication. Our deep roots in the community (having lived, worked, and married in cities like Honfleur and Rouen) give us a local reputation you can rely on even from thousands of miles away.
Trust is our primary currency. We prioritize quality and personal relationships over volume. We provide transparent, real-time communication and detailed reports after every visit. Our clients value the fact that they have Ilse’s direct line, not an anonymous call center.
Key holding (Gardiennage) is the foundation of our service. Having a trusted local partner who holds your keys allows for rapid response in case of emergencies, secure access for deliveries, and regular professional inspections. In Normandy, where weather and humidity can shift quickly, having a reliable key holder nearby is your property’s best insurance policy.
In the event of an emergency (storm damage, leak, security alert), our proximity allows for rapid intervention. We assess the situation immediately, secure the premises, and coordinate with our vetted network of local artisans to resolve the issue. You are kept informed every step of the way with live updates.
Winter is a critical time for secondary residences in Normandy. We conduct regular stewardship visits to check for frost protection, manage ventilation to prevent humidity buildup, and ensure the property remains secure during winter storms.
Preserving Norman Heritage & Technical Expertise
Humidity is the #1 concern for owners of historic homes in Normandy, especially those with colombages (timber-frames) or stone walls. We implement strict ventilation protocols and regular checks to prevent mold and structural damage. We understand how these “breathing” houses work and monitor them closely during the damp autumn and winter months.
Yes. Managing historic homes from 17th-century timber-framed houses (colombages) in Honfleur to flint-and-brick villas in Étretat requires specific knowledge of local materials. We monitor for humidity, ventilation, and structural integrity, ensuring that Normandy’s unique heritage is preserved using the correct traditional techniques.
Yes. Over the years, we have built a vetted circle of reliable, high-quality craftsmen from specialized roofers for slate and thatch to masons and plumbers. We only recommend professionals who meet our standards of responsiveness and respect for prestigious estates. We manage them onsite when they intervene.
Not at all. Our goal is your peace of mind. If you already have a trusted housekeeper, a gardener who knows your estate’s history, or a preferred contractor, we are more than happy to collaborate with them. We adapt to your existing team. However, if you are looking for new expertise, we are happy to recommend professionals from our own vetted circle of local partners.
We act as your coordinators and supervisors, not the executors. We believe that specialized tasks like professional cleaning, technical repairs, or expert landscaping should be handled by dedicated professionals who excel in their field. Our role is to be your eyes & ears on the ground: we coordinate their visits, verify the quality of their work, and ensure everything meets your standards before your arrival. This allows us to remain objective and focused on your best interests.
Yes. Navigating French Internet Service Providers can be challenging in rural areas. We can be present for the installation appointment, ensure the fiber-optic or satellite connection is working correctly, and troubleshoot any issues before you arrive.
We monitor your energy consumption and ensure your heating system is set to Hors-Gel (frost protection) during winter to avoid burst pipes while keeping costs optimized. We can also adjust settings remotely or just before your arrival to ensure a warm welcome without wasting energy.
Yes. We act as your Technical Liaison. We coordinate with architects and artisans, providing you with regular photo updates and progress reports. Whether it’s restoring a historic flint wall in Étretat or managing the landscaping of a forest estate in Lyons-la-Forêt, we are your eyes and ears on the ground.
Administrative & Bilingual Liaison
Absolutely. One of our core missions is to act as your bilingual liaison. We handle communications with local authorities, utility companies (EDF, water, internet), and insurance providers. We ensure that language barriers never become an obstacle to the smooth running of your Norman estate.
While we are not tax advisors, we act as your local coordinator. We can receive and explain your French mail (such as Taxe Foncière notices), coordinate with your insurance provider, and manage payments for local utilities (EDF, water). We ensure you never miss a deadline or an important notification while you are away.
Yes. Dealing with French mail can be overwhelming from abroad. We can collect your mail, filter out the junk, and scan and translate important documents (like tax notices or utility bills) for your immediate review. If something requires a physical signature or an original copy, we can manage the forwarding to your primary residence worldwide.
Yes. We can be listed as your authorized local representative (mandataire) with your insurance provider. This allows us to be the first point of contact in case of a claim, to coordinate expert visits, and to manage emergency interventions immediately. Having a local manager recognized by your insurance often speeds up the resolution process and ensures your property is never left vulnerable.
Preparing Your Arrival in Your Secondary Residence
Our goal is to make your arrival effortless. We handle the full opening of your house: testing systems (heating, water, Wi-Fi), terrace setup, vehicle checks and even stocking your fridge with fresh local finds from the market. Your home is ready for you the moment you turn the key.
Absolutely. Many of our clients keep a car in their secondary residence. We can ensure your vehicle is started periodically, monitor battery health, and even take it for its mandatory contrôle technique (safety inspection) or routine servicing. This ensures your car is as ready for your arrival as your house is.
One of the biggest hurdles of owning a home in France is coordinating deliveries (furniture, appliances, or wine). We can be onsite to receive your packages, check for damage, and ensure they are placed exactly where you want them. No more missed delivery slips or packages left at the gate.