ou have just bought your will need to ask a local builder,
gorgeous old farmhouse in architect or a British chartered
the south of France and all surveyor in France to check the
it needs is some renovation and structural state of the building
'TLC' to become the home of your and estimate what the repair
dreams! costs will be before you buy. You
should then add at least 25% for
A word of caution! any hidden extras that the
architect/surveyor may have
It is often all too easy to missed.
become wrapped up in your
optimistic hopes and dreams and It is also very important that
not spend enough time planning you are realistic about the time
the renovation and ensuring that frame in which your house will be
enough finance is in place for ready to move into. A job that
the project to be completed. The you might expect to take six
last thing you want is to buy months in England will probably
that perfect renovation project take a few months longer in
only to find two years down the France especially if you don't
line that the roof is still speak the language as it will
leaking because you haven't the take some time to find builders
money to fix it as you spent it who come recommended and whose
elsewhere! work you approve of.
In England, before you buy a Once you have bought your quaint
property it is standard practice but dilapidated farmhouse in the
to send in a chartered surveyor south of France which you have
who can estimate the various chosen for its laid back
costs of building repairs. This atmosphere, don't be surprised
is not the case in France. You when your tradesmen adopt the
same attitude in their work - so be prepared to rough it a
regime... You will have to keep little during your adventure! Not
on top of them at all times to that it's a bad thing: it can
ensure that the work is completed actually be very enjoyable
on schedule and that everyone is cooking and eating in the great
synchronised. outdoors after a hard day's work
watching the beginnings of your
If, for example, the electrician project slowly become the home of
is booked to rewire the house your dreams.
within a certain time frame and
he is delayed or does not turn This particular couple actually
up, then other jobs such as spent the first few weeks living
plastering that follow will also with their neighbours rather than
have to be delayed and staying in a hotel while the
rescheduled. This rescheduling house was unlivable. The two of
may not be possible for some them simply went over to say
weeks which could in turn put hello and in a great gesture
other jobs behind schedule... which you would find hard to come
patience is something that you across in any part of the world,
will have to learn to embrace! they were invited to stay for as
long as they needed even though
For instance, an English couple just moments before they were
that relocated to the Rhone-Alps complete strangers!
region in the south of France
found that their project actually The project was finally completed
took two years rather than one two years after they first bought
year as predicted. They spent the the house and, regardless of all
first few months cooking with the headache and hard work they
camping gas and portable cooker put in, if you ask them now they
while the kitchen was being built would say they really wouldn't
have done it any differently. The eat Provencal food in their
stone farmhouse has become a scented, colourful courtyard,
haven of tranquillity and they can look up at their house
something that they can both be and truly say "We did that"
very proud of as, every evening
when they drink local wine and
About the Author:
Nick Dowlatshahi is managing director of Leapfrog Properties, a UK specialist agency in French property. Leapfrog offer an online database of up to 200,000 properties in France for sale plus personal service from fluent French speakers. The Leapfrog Properties website is at http://www.leapfrog-properties.com
Source: www.isnare.com
