pjm

We have a bank account with CAM bank in Spain.  They have a really good online service which translates into English and an English speaking helpline who are efficient and friendly!! Don't think they are in France also though??

It is with much sadness that I am looking to re-home our 2 lovely Great Danes (and someone suggested posting here may help). We will be spending long periods travelling and away from home in the near future and I do not feel it is fair on my dogs to take them on long journeys as they hate travelling nor leave them in kennels where they will pine and be lonely. I have a Blue male, 3yrs old, French LOF, typical daft and stupid Dane, but he is a big boy and needs a firm handler.  Full pet passport, jabs, chip etc..tattoo 2DFM216 Black female, 2yrs old, French LOF, wary of strangers but a very loyal and loving dog when she trusts you.  Extremely intelligent, loves to play and run.  Full pet passport, jabs, chip etc..tattoo 2EEM174 These dogs are best friends and I am looking to re-home them together if possible, but I realise this may be difficult so would consider splitting if the right homes were found.  Both dogs to be spayed/castrated before leaving my care, and this is the only consting I want for them.  Family pets only not for breeding or guarding. Will only consider experienced Dane or large breed owners, ideally will have large enclosed garden as dogs are used to outdoor life in cosy kennels.  NOT suited to other animals cats, livestock, poultry, as given the opportunity and together they will chase.  My male did kill a sheep once (over 2yrs ago) the problem has been reslolved (we still have a flock of sheep and the dogs) and he does not bother with them anymore, but I feel it is only fair to mention. Also children over 13yrs old only, as they are not used to young chlidren plus being big dogs are fairly clumsy. We are in dept 61. The situation is not "desperate" at the moment, but I do need to re-home them as soon as I can.

Hello Brian Yes, I sent a personal mail through this forum, but was not sure if it sent or not??  Will try again, but basically depending on what area of 61 you are in (we are in 53 but nr Ferte Mace 61 area) then I can recommend a quarry and hire equipment supplier (would post on the forum, but it will no doubt be seen as advertising and removed!) for wacker/roller etc.. Patrick J Martin  

Have sent pm (or I think it sent anyway?)

If anyone needs to check a Siret number then go to www.infobilan.fr it gives all the registration details.  Some so called "companies" are in actual fact one man bands, so you may need to search the name of the actual tradesman to find his Siret and registration details, as the "company" is not registered in it's own right. That said, you still need to ask your tradesman for a copy of his decennale insurace, to ensure he is covered for the all trades he is performing.  No "find a builder" type sites check insurace details as far as I know? Patrick J Martin PJM Renovation eurl

Our payment structure very much depends on the type of works quoted for.  On large projects 100K euros + we like to break the project down into seperate "phases".  Each "phase" is 50% payable up front, followed by 25% half way through and 25% upon completion.  Obviously upon completion of the first pahse we move on to the second, and so forth.  We supply our clients with weekly update CD's so they can see how works are progressing if they are not based in France. Medium projects are 50% up front, followed by the same lots of 25% as above. Small projects are usually payable upon completion (unless an items needs to be custom ordered, in which case a deposit is needed) To take a case in point, last year we ordered custom made doors for a client, we didn't ask for a deposit, the client then "changed his mind".  We had to honor the order, and have doors in stock that are unsitable for most buildings and we can't use.  We explain our payment terms clearly on our website.  We have been in business in France for over 6yrs now, and have always operated under these terms as standard.  Most of our work comes via recommendations and we are very busy, so we must be doing something right!

Clients should indeed be made aware of the issues surrounding correct insurance.  As a general building company we are registered for all trades, as our siret and ape code confirm.  We are also insured for all trades, and it does indeed cost an arm and a leg to cover everything. I know of many other registered artisans in our area, who are not correctly registered and are totally uninsured.  Not only is this a risk for the client if there is faulty workmanship, but there will be no 10yr guarantee on the works either.  It costs nothing to ask to see someones insurance certificate and double check their registration on a site such as www.infobilan.com

A sheep is not just a "sheep"!!  A good ram is 90-110 euros, a good ewe 60-80 euros, an old mutton ewe 30-60 euros. In addition ewe + 1 lamb 120 euors and ewe + 2 lambs 180 euros. Or 6mth lambs ready for slaughter 75-90 euros. Obviously all depends on age, size and buyer, but these are average prices in our region 53 (I've been selling sheep here for 5yrs now!)

Why not use an access platform (cherry picker) you can hire one for 500 euros HT for the week, much quicker and cheaper than scaffolding.  pm if you want details. Patrick J Martin pjm

Sounds as if MAFF may have changed their criteria since last time I contacted them for a quote.  We are insured for the above mentioned trades with AXA on one single policy and it's always nice to have a comparison quote, especially seeing as renewal is due in April this year!  Will see what MAFF mayenne have to say this time of asking?

Hi Have sent email  Thanks

I was interested in the posting about MAFF as the one in Mayenne informed me they could not insure one tradesman for all trades, they wanted a seperate tradesman, CDI contract, on the books for each element (which I assume is what others have).  In essence a "general building company" is acceptable but a fully qualified "general builder" is not understood.  The concept of one single "general builder" as a person is still hard to get across to the French.   

We are fully registered and insured as a "general builder" sarl.  The only company we have found in 6yrs of trading that will cover our decannale and civil liabilities for "everything" is AXA.  We shopped around a few years ago, and even after having no claims on our policies for over 4yrs (as it was then) no one would insure us for all trades unless we had 1 employee per seperate trade.  The French do not seem to understand the concept of a general builder?       

Errm, we are selling a campsite (which is very large) and 2 houses (one which "can" be used as a gite) and a property to convert.  As the original post has been edited by moderators, I don't want to put too many details, but it does need a specialist agent, hence the posting. I agree alot of "gite complexs" are on the market and unless you have added draw (local tourist area etc..) or are with Gites de France, I don't think they are a serious business earner....unlike a campsite can be!  

OK, wasn't intended as "direct" advertising, but alot of agents don't know how to value our property correctly, as it isn't the sort of thing that comes on the market every day.  Fed up with showing agents round and them asking us for a valuation!!  Want someone who knows their stuff, as opposed to people who have only been in the job 5 mins and don't know their a**e from their elbow!! Hence a brief description of what they are required to market. As you said, I do already have an advert in your LF magazine, so not exactly looking to do things on the cheap.

That's strange the holding page (warning whatever) should have gone, not sure why it is still there?  The site is fully live though, click home page, or any of the other buttons and all the info. is there.

Anyone know of any good agents or websites to advertise our campsite and property complex for sale with?    

Anyone know any good agents or websites to advertise our campsite and properties for sale with?  

Anyone know of any good agents or websites to advertise our campsite for sale with?    

Not a hotel, but we are selling our 48 pitch campsite, shop and shower/toilet block, with 2 x 3 bed houses, barn conversion and land on the banks of the river Mayenne 53.  Visit www.mayennecamping.com and send a mail if interested?

Well I would send them a copy of the first letter (requesting they cancel the insurance policy) by recorded delivery, as proof that it has indeed been cancelled.  I assume that if you do not have your house insurance with AGF you have taken out a policy with a different insurance company?  Can you not ask your actual insurance agent to sort it out for you?

Having had a successful renovations company registered in France for over 4yrs, I have to say you are better off employing sub-contractors, than people on the books.  I have employed up to 5 people on the books at one time over the past few years, and the social charges (and increase in insurace cover) were horrendous.  I currently have 2 lads on the books, pay over the SMIC (as I think it is an insult otherwise!) and this is just about workable.  There is no incentive in France for employing labour direct, CDD contracts are near impossible to termiante early and the dismissal proceedure is labourious if you need to sack someone.

Thanks Hamish, will check it out!

We are selling our campsite and gite complex in Mayenne 53, and want to know if anyone can recommend a suitable agent or website for such a property.  I know of all the local agents, but wonder if there is anyone who specalises in these type of sales?

We are in a similar situation, building our own new house on our land.  However, we have our own renovations company, and will therefore be project managing and organising any sub-contractors ourselves.  Don't be afraid of either project managing yourself (depending on your level of French and building knowledge), employing your architect to do this (if available) or contracting a Brit project manager whom you have confidence in (be sure to get references first).  Of all the new builds going up in our area, none seem to be completed in less than 8mths, which considering the basic construction methods being used, is a long time!  We're not talking Chateaux!!