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February 2005
David and I were really disappointed when a property we were looking for in the UK didn’t
work out. He’d really wanted a house with a bit of land. Then I noticed a French
property magazine on the check-in desk at work and it got me thinking. I looked at a few
property websites and was amazed at what we could get for our money over in France. Managed
to persuade David to come over with me and take a look at a few properties but he’s not sure…
March 2005
I was originally looking at properties in Normandy, as it’s not too far away, but I’ve
discovered that you can get a lot more for your money in Brittany. Found a company with a
really good selection of low priced properties in these areas. Set up a few viewings
for May.
May 2005
Just as I thought. The properties in Normandy were okay, but the Brittany properties were
fantastic value for money. What a crazy whirlwind! We were sent directions to the
different property agents – when we turned up, the agent would get into his car and drive off at 90
miles an hour to the viewing – we’d be dashing behind him, terrified of losing him! At least
they all spoke really good English. Anyhow, we survived and put in an offer for a great
property in a little hamlet in the middle of Brittany. It’s got a longère house, cottage,
outbuildings, front garden, 2 rear paddocks and 3 other fields scattered around the hamlet.
Heard back from the agent and after some negotiating with the vendor, we managed to secure the
property for less than the asking price. In France it’s quite common for the vendor to clear
the property of everything, including even the sockets, but we really wanted to buy it as it was,
because there was an old cider press and workings in one of the barns, together with old seed
threshers and weighing scales. The vendors were happy to leave all of this – great.
Although the agent wondered why we wanted to buy their ‘rubbish’!
There’s no such thing as gazumping in France – you agree an amount with the vendor, sign a ‘
Compromis de Vente’ and pay a 10% deposit. If the vendor pulls out, they have to pay 10% of
the property price and if the buyer pulls out, they lose their deposit. Much better system
than the UK.
June 2005
I’ve now gone full time at work to help our finances. We’ve borrowed on the equity of our
house, so that we can buy the house in France outright. Fortunately David’s a builder, his
dad’s a carpenter and my brother’s a plumber so we can keep our costs down. It all seemed a
bit of a dream in the beginning, but David’s really enthusiastic now.
August 2005
The agents have been fantastic at keeping us informed of the progress, so although it’s been a
long wait, at least we knew things have been progressing. We were given a date of 26th August
as the signing date.
At the notaire’s office, we met the vendors. Marie from the agent’s was there and
translated everything for us. The notaire cost us an arm and a leg, but they do arrange
everything – even down to sorting out the gas, water and electricity connections.
The local people are great – really friendly. There’s an elderly couple just down the lane
from us – Pierre and Célèste. Her French has so much Breton mixed in with it, I can hardly
understand her, but she makes up for it with hugs and kisses! Every time we come over to the
property she walks around with her dog to see what we’re up to.
When the water board turned up, they switched on the water and suddenly it all gushed out behind
the house where the pipe had been disconnected. We discovered the main meter was located in
some fields behind the house that didn’t belong to us. The water board man just took one look
at the flood, shrugged his shoulders, said, “This is a problem” and went off to lunch! We
called the agents, who once again came to our rescue and arrange for the meter to be transferred to
our property – for a cost of €958!
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