The Alps - Creating a home and a business
The building recession started it all. In 1991 Alan was working as a technical associate in an architect’s office and the work just dried up, so it was goodbye to him and many other employees. It was such a shock – no more security, two teenage children to support – what now?
We decided to make a living doing something completely different.We had been studying the French property market for some time, so thought maybe we could do something there. How about running a chalet in the Alps? Two holiday seasons, rather than just the summer like most parts of France, so double the income. The children were nearing the end of their education and gave us their support.
La Clusaz
But which part of the Alps should we choose? Within an hour-and-a-half drive of Geneva airport would be ideal (there’s nothing worse than starting a holiday with a two- to threehour transfer), and the vicinity of Mont Blanc would ensure good snow cover.
We needed a dual-purpose property, offering catered accommodation in the winter and self-catering in the summer. After several visits to Morzine, Châtel, Les Gets, St Jean d’Aulps and Chamonix, we still hadn’t found a suitable property and were beginning to wonder if we would ever find anything. Then an agent suggested the La Clusaz area.
We were immediately charmed by the mixture of a ski station and summer resort which still retained its roots and local traditions. Also Annecy with its wonderful lake is about half an hour away.
Nearby, but still linked into the La Clusaz ski system, we found Manigod and its beautiful valley.We thought it would be ideal for both winter and summer holidays.
Build your own
But would we be able to find a suitable property? After yet more unsuccessful visits, the agent suggested we build our own. This seemed a good solution and after visiting several plots, we found one quite near to the Croix Fry ski area of Manigod, with links into the skiing of La Clusaz.
Then began the seemingly endless process of buying the land and obtaining planning permission.We nearly gave a few times, but the memory of the amazing views kept us going. Eventually, we became the proud owners of a building plot with permission to build a chalet, containing a small apartment for ourselves, one sleeping four and a larger one sleeping 10.
Then we hit another problem; the pound dropped out of the ERM and its value plummeted. Things looked desperate. Having got this far, we didn’t want to give up, but we were going to lose so much money and wouldn’t have enough to pay the builder. The solution was for the builder to put up the shell and for us to finish the interior.We wouldn’t be able to have paying guests as soon as we would have liked, but we would save a lot of money doing it this way.
All change
In March 1994, with the English house sold, we set off to start our new life. The children (and two cats) were staying at the grandparents, before moving to London to start their careers.
The builders had put up the shell of the chalet but it wasn’t wind and watertight, as we discovered several days later when the temperature dropped below freezing.We survived though, and before long the interior took shape.We did everything ourselves (with occasional help from the children), except for the floor tiling, plumbing and electrics. After much frantic last-minute finishing off, we welcomed our first guests on Christmas Eve.
It was still early days and we only had a few weeks of selfcatered guests, kindly forwarded by a friend. After not earning for months, it was a relief to put something in the bank. Just being there though, with the stunning scenery and the sun shining on the snow, made it all worthwhile.
Moving on
After the winter season, we proceeded to tame the garden, sowing grass, creating a rockery and planting lots of trees, while bearing in mind that it should be in keeping with the mountain environment. Traditional red geraniums completed the picture and we were soon welcoming our first summer guests.
And so the years have progressed, living and working through one season, but planning for the next.We’ve enjoyed the wonderful scenery and the friendliness of the locals and their traditions, and have met so many people from all walks of life and nationalities.
It’s great to be able to leave the chalet for a few hours in the winter and ski on fresh snow or wander into the mountains in the summer. When it’s very hot we drive to Annecy lake and swim in the clear blue waters.
We feel privileged living here and are proud that the business has been so successful, but the time has come to move on.We would love to pass our home and business on to someone else who would enjoy it as much as we have. They would have the advantage of a ready-made business with a flexible contract with a well-known English holiday company. Alternatively the chalet would make a lovely main or second home.
It’s on the market for €895,000
Alan and Monica Benstead
www.lalucioleholidays.com