Reflections on the last few months

Three weeks left until the place is ours (as long as all goes according to plan). Here are my thoughts on moving to France:

1. If you want to live in France, then just go and live in France. You could spend years taking wee holidays and you still won't know what it's like to live there. Sell up, go over, and rent. Then settle in and take your time.

2. Forget agencies - they want your money. Go straight to a notaire and save yourself 7% of the asking price.

3. Never accept the asking price - offer a third less and negotiate. Prices are made up, and there's no rule as to what a place is worth.

4. Remember that a building can be altered but an aspect and location cannot. Better something needing work in perfect surroundings than a dream house near a proposed dechetterie.

5. Found a place you like? Take a good look around the place before committing -Google Earth's good to see what's around about- there could be a dirt bike track through those lovely trees at the bottom of the garden.

6. Land rented out to a farmer? You might as well not own the land: unless the farmer breaks the tenancy agreement you can't evict him/her, and some tenancies are generations old.

7. Local farmers get first dibs on land for sale over a hectare, which can delay the sale for months. This is why there're lots of farmhouses for sale with no land: the big boys and girls have nabbed it all.

8. Most stuff is nearly a third cheaper in the UK, and there's more choice. Ship it over.

9. Employ local tradesmen and talk to your neighbours who hold the keys to a lot of stuff you'd never know about - like the local farmer's distillery for example! Hic.

10. Old house? Keep off the modern building materials as they're designed to keep damp out, whereas old buildings are designed move damp out. Mix the two and you have condensation, damp and rot. Use matching natural materials and ventilate. Better for you and the planet.