Posted via email from French Property News

Posted via email from French Property News

Well we all know that the French are laid back and life runs at a snail's pace in France! But at 36,000 euros for a snail sounds a bit slimy!

General Council of Charente have bought the rights to use a snail for use as an emblem. So you will not just see the escargot on your plates but on flags, t-shirts, etc!

Posted via email from howard’s posterous

Brittany, long time favourite for Brits buying Brittany Property, has a nasty secret. Be careful on some Brittany beaches! Vincent Petit was out riding on a Brittany beach (SAINT-MICHEL-EN-GREVE) when his horse and Mr Petit were overcome by toxic fumes believed to be hydrogen sulphide emitted by rotting algae! The horse died immediately but fortunately Mr Petit is recovering.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon visited Saint-Michel-en-Greve last week, pledging measures to control the algae by next spring. Don’t Poo-Poo this news!

We have regional guides to France – to help you decide where to buy!

We have a new writer who has a wry sense of humour – so you can learn and enjoy at the same time!

Some extracts:

France Regional Guides

Writing about Provence (PACA): “The Alps of Provence are home to the marmot, a 5kg mountaineering hamster, which wards off predators by chattering its teeth. Must try that. Marmots hibernate for nine months of the year and seal their burrow with faeces. Marmots are an endangered species because they’re so slow at breeding. Your love-life would probably suffer too if your front door was sealed with faeces.” For more from this guide – Provence Guide

Limousin Guide: “Limousin is slap in the middle of France (and left a bit). It’s very rural and is the second least populated region after Corsica. It is also the only French region to have given its name to a 20′ car with a jacuzzi in the back. Historians claim the association comes from the very long cloaks worn by Limousin shepherds, though what shepherds were doing driving limos is anyone’s guess.”

Poitou-Charentes Guide: “Her first husband was Louis VII. In 1146 they embarked together on the Second Crusade, referred to in subsequent accounts as ‘Ye Terminal Fyve of Crusades’. Half way across the Phrygian mountains, Eleanor and Louis started a ‘domestic’ over the amount of luggage she’d brought (plus ça change). While they were still bickering, the Turks attacked. Surviving the attack but somewhat discouraged, Ellie and Lou decided to go for an easier target and attacked Damascus – much to the surprise of their allies, the Damascans. An act of indiscriminate slaughter and pillage can often bring a couple closer together (Relayte Handebooke, 1178) but not the Aquitaines, who eventually returned to Poitiers on separate ships.”

Rhone-Alpes Guide: “The capital of Rhône-Alpes is France’s third largest city Lyon. (We spell it Lyons, possibly through confusion with the tea-rooms). Lyon’s international airport is named after the writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who hasn’t been seen since he took off in his monoplane in 1944. Some consider this naming unfortunate for an airport – like Titanic Cruises or The John Prescott Diet.”

Enjoy!

Despite the fact that Brits are big buyers of property in France, they have a terrible reputation in France whilst buying a property. Why?

a) The big reason – Brits book appointments to view and then do not turn up.
b) The Brits expect to view during lunchtime (noon to 2pm). Mon dieu!
c) Wasting time!
d) Culture differences

Appointments

No doubt this is the biggest issue! Appointments are often made, and broken without any communication with the Immobilier. Potential buyers should be aware that the Immobilier has set aside a time frame to show you a property (and in many cases will have turned down other potential clients at the same time); he has organised a viewing time with the vendor – so the vendor can have set aside time to receive you! Many Immobilier will ask for a mobile number whilst you are viewing in France to ring you and confirm a viewing. Often Immobilier complain that mobiles are turned off or the British clients have not arranged international roaming and so they do not work in France!

Brits when asked about the lack of communication will often get aggressive and cannot see how inconsiderate and rude they have been! A classic excuse: “I was stuck on the motorway”. When asked “Which French Autoroute?”. Reply: “We are still on the M1 in England”. Yes – not even in France. “Not our fault we did not ring you!”. Then, of course, the good fallback – “It was too expensive to ring you on our mobile. International mobile calls are so expensive you know!”. Just how much was that property you were going to buy?

Lunchtime Viewings

Brits just do not appreciate how important le “Lunchtime” is. It is a sacrosanct 2 hours that the French enjoy – it is a passion to eat well and savour the ambience of food, wine and talk. How often do you hear “Don’t they want to sell me a property? Why won’t they arrange a viewing so that it will fit in with my viewing schedule?” Don’t forget one of the reasons you buying a property in France is too enjoy the French life style and culture.

Wasting time

Another classic – “I’m holiday in the area, can I have a butcher’s at a few houses while I am here?”. Often asked during July and August – when most French go on holiday - so Immobilier will be on skeleton staff (if not closed), and the Vendor could be on holiday too. Consequently viewings can be extremely difficult to arrange.

In many cases, the most frustrating time-waster “I have a property to sell in the UK!” Remember once you have made an offer which is accepted, you will have to sign the “Compromis de Vente”. This document commits you to buying – normally the process takes about 3 months with the Notaire. You HAVE to be in a position to buy – do not make offers if you cannot complete with 3 months (approximate time frame).

Culture Differences

We have already mentioned the Lunchtime issue! Brits have to realise that the pace of life in France is different. Everything is more laid-back. You are going to have to get used to it! This is France and what you are buying into. Yes, at times it can be frustrating. You are in France so do not expect to dictate your terms of reference on the French.

Are we really that bad?

Of course, most of the Brits are NOT representative of the above. They are all too ready to adapt to the French style of life, and enjoy their experience in France. Many Brits even become friends with their Immobilier!