THERE is a good chance that once you have bought somewhere in France you will want to do some work on it.
Depending on the size of the project it may be necessary to apply for a permis de construire or building permit.
Applications for the permis are free and can be made either by yourself, or the builder or architect handling the work in you name.
MESSAGE boards about moving to France are still full of questions concerning the swimming pool security legislation that came in earlier this year.
Many people ask which types of pool the law covers, what security measures need to be taken and how severe are the fines?
But now that there has been some time for the rules to ‘bed-in’ pool suppliers are able to provide clear advice and information.
WITH autumn around the corner the air is full of the sound of chainsaws preparing logs for winter fuel.
Many homes in the countryside still use wood burning stoves and open fires as a major source of heating as the dark nights draw in.
But if you do not have any wood already stored most villages will have someone who sells logs.
NOW here’s something a little different for you property hunters – a 19th Century chateau near the border of the Charente and Dordogne.
Set in 14 acres of rolling countryside the house has gargoyles, a depiction of Joan of Arc, balconies and parapets, as well as two towers and all the original fireplaces.
The chateau was constructed in 1890 and it has a ballroom, pillared reception area and nineteen bedrooms.
ASK an artist what brings them to France and they will often reply ‘the light’ and it was no different for a group slowly working on their watercolours in the courtyard of La Borie du Four.
Set just outside Villefranche du Perigord in the Dordogne, La Borie, was playing host to a week of exercises in perspective, painting trips to bastide towns and the occasional glass of red.
ALTHOUGH Paris is renowned for its American contingent the magic of France draws people from the United States to all corners of the Hexagon.
One of these is Lisa Feay, right, who has settled in to her home with her partner Ian in the foothills of the Pyrenees, near Carcassonne.
A long way from her previous homes in New York, Glasgow and Minneapolis.
A POPULAR way of paying for your electricity in France is via the Option Tempo tariff systems.
Run by Electricité de France it works by offering varying prices per kWh based upon the actual weather on particular days and according to hours of use.
THE appeal of packing it all in and buying a vineyard plays on the minds of many, but as property prices rise is it possible to pick up a bargain?
This is the question asked by journalist Chris Wilson on the Expat Telegraph website as he trawls around the south of France.
But his plan to pick up a few hectares of vines with a pleasant little mansion to while away the hours in is soon brought crashing down to earth as prices of a €1million or more are quoted.
ONCE people have set up their holiday home website many just leave it to merrily hang around on the internet hoping to catch passing customers.
But those who promote their site effectively will get plenty of people visiting it and booking a week or two in the sunshine.
ONE of the best ways to search for a property is to spend some time in a region so that you can get a good feel for the place.
But it may cost you a small fortune in hotel fees or to let a holiday home, however a house swap may be a very cheap alternative.