Provence, an endless love story
More than 20 years after settling in the Luberon, Rudi Janssens looks back over his professional saga, from the upper echelons of finance in the “flat country” to real estate in the famous Regional Park of the Luberon...
“I had been a banker for 15 years in Belgium when I and my wife, Carine, decided to make a radical life change while looking for a holiday home in the South of France. I remember it well, love at first sight ! Totally self-evident. An irresistible impulse, strong enough to take the decision, one day in 1998, to break away from the hectic pace of the world of finance. A desire to offer our four children untamed nature, medieval villages, the blue of Provençal skies, and a completely different lifestyle. The adventure commenced with an office in Bonnieux.” It was the financial crisis of 2008 that led the Janssens to re-think their strategy - and think big. The goal was clear : to become one of the main players in the sale of fine residences in Provence. The eight agencies, with 42 team members in all, now cover the sectors of Saint-Rémy, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Vaison-la-Romaine, Bonnieux, Lourmarin, Saint-Tropez, Grimaud and Ménerbes, a branch specializing in seasonal rentals. And a ninth agency will soon be launched in Uzès. Boasting turnover of 5 million euros, Janssens Immobilier is affiliated to the international Knight Frank network, particularly well established in the USA and Asia. Five years ago, it welcomed Julie, Carine and Rudi’s daughter, who successfully opened the door to digital tools - website, blog, newsletter, social networks -, essential for drawing and building the loyalty of an international clientele.
Currently, everyone is clearly set on getting back to grass roots. French, German and Swiss buyers are great fans of Provence, wide open spaces and privacy. As demanded by this international context, well-being and ecological responsibility take precedence in new kinds of consumer behaviour. The Janssens look to the future in all serenity, determined to open branches in Uzès, Sainte-Maxime and Le Lavandou. Decidedly, the family and freedom are priceless.
Janssens Immobilier Knight Frank (04 90 75 96 98).
