Thinking of moving to France

[npope]

I am thinking of moving my family to france to run a gite business, if anyone has any good advice I would most welcome.

Thanks in advance

[Heskey]

What's "gite"?

[bull996]

Dont go.

Its full of bloody French people and who the hell would do that unless they had a gun to their heads?

[Puggit]

Add 15% to the advertised price for estate agent and notaire fees

Lots and lots of beaurocracy, make friends with the mayor first - and get your diy stuff in BricoDepot.

[Zen.]

How good is your French? Which region are you thinking of? Does the family include children, if so how old?

[TedMaul]

Heskey said:

What's "gite"?

I think its French for git?

[Mr POD]

Heskey said:

What's "gite"?

A small appartmant overlooking Lake Annecy I hope.

Look. I'll come and stay if you go ahead and the price is right.

I've just spent a week on holiday in the French alps and am left wondering why anyone would live in Britian.

[npope]

Zen. said:

How good is your French? Which region are you thinking of? Does the family include children, if so how old?

Region, south east we are thinking about, French very passing but starting to learn again. Family 3 kids 7,4,2

I know lots to take on in one go but I really think a better life and you never know I might even see my family on a week day :-)

[mechsympathy]

Don't settle somewhere with a small airport and only budget carriers. Cheap flights are likely to be on the way out.

[Jasandjules]

bull996 said:

Dont go.

Its full of bloody French people and who the hell would do that unless they had a gun to their heads?

+1

[V8S]

A gite is a small annex let out to holidaymakers by those who have stretched themselves with a second mortgage to afford a place in France.

PS. It's pronounced:

JE as in the French for I

then

EET

JE-EET, except there's only one syllable.

Edited by V8S on Tuesday 26th August 13:02

[chris_w666]

Be fluent in french, look into the Notaire fees and stuff, be a local they don't like outsiders. Market your gite well, PH should do nicely.

Watch out for trees.

[BigLepton]

Mr POD said:

Heskey said:

What's "gite"?

A small appartmant overlooking Lake Annecy I hope.

Look. I'll come and stay if you go ahead and the price is right.

I've just spent a week on holiday in the French alps and am left wondering why anyone would live in Britian.

Try getting a job in the French alps and you'll find out.

[BigLepton]

npope said:

I am thinking of moving my family to france to run a gite business, if anyone has any good advice I would most welcome.

Thanks in advance

I have friends who run one just outside Perpignan. Ask yourself the following questions:

1) What experience of running a hospitality business do you have?

2) Do you speak French?

3) Do you have a cast-iron and realistic business plan with large contingencies for when things go wrong?

4) Do you have a financially sound exit plan if you or your family don't like it?

If you can answer positively to all of the above, you've got a fighting chance despite the downturn. If not, I'd reconsider or wait until you can answer them positively.

[Zen.]

With regard to the children, get them into a French school ASAP.

Red tape is a nightmare.

Fuel is more expensive than here now.

Be prepared to grow your own fruit and veg.

What ever you buy, ensure it's well insulated as heating it can prove expensive.

Lots of English do this, but in my opinion few do it as well as the French, be prepared to continually invest in the property, if you want repeat business. A good website to market the place is essential as is registering with someone like Chez Nous http://www.cheznous.com/. Many Brits want a decent size pool, these now have to be fenced in.

[The Ben]

I bloody love France, do it!!! The women are fantastic too.... Ned one of them ticking of my list though

[Mr POD]

BigLepton said:

Mr POD said:

Heskey said:

What's "gite"?

A small appartmant overlooking Lake Annecy I hope.

Look. I'll come and stay if you go ahead and the price is right.

I've just spent a week on holiday in the French alps and am left wondering why anyone would live in Britian.

Try getting a job in the French alps and you'll find out.

Epecially as my french language skills are crap.

[Mr Beaumont]

Mr POD said:

Heskey said:

What's "gite"?

A small appartmant overlooking Lake Annecy I hope.

Look. I'll come and stay if you go ahead and the price is right.

I've just spent a week on holiday in the French alps and am left wondering why anyone would live in Britian.

Annecy is a beautiful place, spent some brilliant summer holidays there, also I prefer swimming in the Lake to swimming in the Sea.

[King Herald]

Mr POD said:

Heskey said:

What's "gite"?

A small appartmant overlooking Lake Annecy I hope.

Look. I'll come and stay if you go ahead and the price is right.

I've just spent a week on holiday in the French alps and am left wondering why anyone would live in Britian.

I guess you also had holiday romances when you were young, promised ever lasting love, and swore you'd never look at another woman again huh?

[Roo.]

DBSV8 said:

Loads of useful stuff

Where do I sign?