Renovations in France: Cost control
A cry heard throughout France is “Gosh, that’s expensive”, as British owners and buyers struggle to cope with the effect of the currently unfavourable exchange rate. If your purchase or renovation is being funded by money earned in sterling, you have been hard hit in recent months. Those living on UK pensions have seen their monthly transfers dwindle – last year £700 bought around €1000, whereas in March 2008 it was down to about €900. Ouch. So, what can you do to minimise the pain, yet still achieve your French dream?
If you haven’t yet bought, you can trim your sails by choosing a smaller property or looking in a cheaper area. Don’t, however, make the mistake of buying a house in an area you don’t like; there’s no point in snapping up a bargain in a place where you’ll be unhappy. Try to spend time in an unfamiliar location before you buy to see what life in the area is really like, especially if you are planning a permanent move. A smaller property in reasonable condition but with potential for extension might be a better buy than a larger renovation project, which will devour money while remaining uninhabitable for many months.
If you are undertaking work on a property you own, whether it’s a full renovation or just making some improvements, you may need to cut back on the spend. The important thing is not to panic. Sit down calmly and look at the whole project. Don’t just cancel random elements of the build, and don’t start skimping on major elements such as roof repairs and foul drainage. If you don’t fix a failing roof properly, it will have to be done again and, in the meantime, leaks could damage the property. If you need a new fosse septique and associated works, make sure the capacity of the system meets the present and future needs of the property, as it will be costly and messy to dig up your garden again.
It’s just a phase
Phasing the works is an obvious short-term solution to many cashflow problems. Managing without a guest bedroom or a second bathroom might mean a little inconvenience when visitors come to stay, but the costs saved now might mean you can at least finish the kitchen.
Phasing does, however, need careful planning. If your electrician and plumber know that eventually you will require services extended to another part of the property, they can make provisions which can reduce disruptive work later. Doing more work yourself rather than paying builders is often seen as a cost-saver but you need to be realistic about your skills for it to work. The myth of the officeworker turned masterbuilder is often just that – a myth. The reality is too often bodged jobs, a slow-moving project and divorce. Undertaking the classic DIY jobs, such as decorating and fitting out, will save you money, and give you a satisfied feeling as you see the job finished.
Now is the time to watch out for cut-price British ‘builders’ working on the black for cash. They lurk in bars, eager to pounce on Brits in need of a cheap job. Often these guys have run out of money on their own project, and they want to make money out of yours. Many have no idea of what they are doing, and are especially dangerous if let loose near electrics or heating systems.
Cost-cutting on materials can be a practical solution. There are, for example, many super-dooper but extortionately expensive floor and wall tiles in the tiling emporiums, but don’t ignore the special offers lurking in the darker corners.You can save a small fortune without compromising on style.You often get a better price per square metre on larger quantities, so ask for a deal.
If you spot a particularly nice, but expensive, bath or shower, take the details to another supplier as you might well find the same ‘look’ in a more affordable range of similar quality, but without the expensive name. However, don’t ignore the cost of petrol or diesel as you drive miles in search of a bargain. Plasterboard may well be cheaper 60 miles away, but how many trips will it take to fetch what you need?
Think outside the box
Outside, your planned pool may now look very expensive. Shop around for quotes, making sure you compare ‘like with like’ in terms of quality and what is included in the price. Haggling is acceptable; they want your business so go for it! For years, folk have managed without expensive roller safety covers, and there’s no reason to buy one now if you are on a tight budget. The old-style covers are still sold but salesmen push the more expensive ones. Immersion pool alarms, which sit on the coping stones, are still the cheapest way for most pools to comply with the security regulations.
Some pool specialists no longer sell them but you can buy them in DIY stores. The argument goes that everyone turns them off to save bothering with them – well, most people don’t put their roller cover back on the moment they stop swimming either! There’s a much bigger profit margin on a posh electric cover than on a little alarm, perhaps that has something to do with it.
Then there’s the question of what to buy in the UK, rather than in France. Don’t just assume that UK prices are always better; a quick flit around the internet sometimes shows surprising differences for identical products, with France the winner.You also need to think about your load capacity and the travel costs if you are making trips solely for the purpose of buying cheaper goods. But don’t forget the white emulsion – British paint is nearly always better and cheaper than French paint!
Chartered surveyor Mary Hall lives in south-west France
Tel 0033 (0)5 65 24 66 46 Email: hall.bureau@neuf.fr
Exhibitions
Renovations in France: Cost control
A cry heard throughout France is “Gosh, that’s expensive”, as British owners and buyers struggle to cope with the effect of the currently unfavourable exchange rate. If your purchase or renovation is being funded by money earned in sterling, you have been hard hit in recent months. Those living on UK pensions have seen their monthly transfers dwindle – last year £700 bought around €1000, whereas in March 2008 it was down to about €900. Ouch. So, what can you do to minimise the pain, yet still achieve your French dream?
If you haven’t yet bought, you can trim your sails by choosing a smaller property or looking in a cheaper area. Don’t, however, make the mistake of buying a house in an area you don’t like; there’s no point in snapping up a bargain in a place where you’ll be unhappy. Try to spend time in an unfamiliar location before you buy to see what life in the area is really like, especially if you are planning a permanent move. A smaller property in reasonable condition but with potential for extension might be a better buy than a larger renovation project, which will devour money while remaining uninhabitable for many months.
If you are undertaking work on a property you own, whether it’s a full renovation or just making some improvements, you may need to cut back on the spend. The important thing is not to panic. Sit down calmly and look at the whole project. Don’t just cancel random elements of the build, and don’t start skimping on major elements such as roof repairs and foul drainage. If you don’t fix a failing roof properly, it will have to be done again and, in the meantime, leaks could damage the property. If you need a new fosse septique and associated works, make sure the capacity of the system meets the present and future needs of the property, as it will be costly and messy to dig up your garden again.
It’s just a phase
Phasing the works is an obvious short-term solution to many cashflow problems. Managing without a guest bedroom or a second bathroom might mean a little inconvenience when visitors come to stay, but the costs saved now might mean you can at least finish the kitchen.
Phasing does, however, need careful planning. If your electrician and plumber know that eventually you will require services extended to another part of the property, they can make provisions which can reduce disruptive work later. Doing more work yourself rather than paying builders is often seen as a cost-saver but you need to be realistic about your skills for it to work. The myth of the officeworker turned masterbuilder is often just that – a myth. The reality is too often bodged jobs, a slow-moving project and divorce. Undertaking the classic DIY jobs, such as decorating and fitting out, will save you money, and give you a satisfied feeling as you see the job finished.
Now is the time to watch out for cut-price British ‘builders’ working on the black for cash. They lurk in bars, eager to pounce on Brits in need of a cheap job. Often these guys have run out of money on their own project, and they want to make money out of yours. Many have no idea of what they are doing, and are especially dangerous if let loose near electrics or heating systems.
Cost-cutting on materials can be a practical solution. There are, for example, many super-dooper but extortionately expensive floor and wall tiles in the tiling emporiums, but don’t ignore the special offers lurking in the darker corners.You can save a small fortune without compromising on style.You often get a better price per square metre on larger quantities, so ask for a deal.
If you spot a particularly nice, but expensive, bath or shower, take the details to another supplier as you might well find the same ‘look’ in a more affordable range of similar quality, but without the expensive name. However, don’t ignore the cost of petrol or diesel as you drive miles in search of a bargain. Plasterboard may well be cheaper 60 miles away, but how many trips will it take to fetch what you need?
Think outside the box
Outside, your planned pool may now look very expensive. Shop around for quotes, making sure you compare ‘like with like’ in terms of quality and what is included in the price. Haggling is acceptable; they want your business so go for it! For years, folk have managed without expensive roller safety covers, and there’s no reason to buy one now if you are on a tight budget. The old-style covers are still sold but salesmen push the more expensive ones. Immersion pool alarms, which sit on the coping stones, are still the cheapest way for most pools to comply with the security regulations.
Some pool specialists no longer sell them but you can buy them in DIY stores. The argument goes that everyone turns them off to save bothering with them – well, most people don’t put their roller cover back on the moment they stop swimming either! There’s a much bigger profit margin on a posh electric cover than on a little alarm, perhaps that has something to do with it.
Then there’s the question of what to buy in the UK, rather than in France. Don’t just assume that UK prices are always better; a quick flit around the internet sometimes shows surprising differences for identical products, with France the winner.You also need to think about your load capacity and the travel costs if you are making trips solely for the purpose of buying cheaper goods. But don’t forget the white emulsion – British paint is nearly always better and cheaper than French paint!
Chartered surveyor Mary Hall lives in south-west France
Tel 0033 (0)5 65 24 66 46 Email: hall.bureau@neuf.fr
