P

Thought I had seen, possibly on this forum but cannot find it again, that  vehicle, even if it is off the road - possibly being restored - requirs insurance. If so, how does the cost of this insurance compare with insurance for road use. Thanks Paul

A slightly different question. We have a van that was bought new in late 2004 (complies with the european standard for a fixed gas regulator). Hopefully, we will soon own a French property but will not be moving over permanently for a year or two. Any opinions on the legality of, whilst towing with a legal UK registered car, submitting the van for registration in France (if any problems can sell the van in Uk before we leave the UK) and if registered it will obviously get its French papers and registration plate. However, continue to tow with the UK cars registration plate (as per UK requirements). Then, when we do come to France permanently, and naturally register the cars, place the French registration plate on the van. Paul

You will get worse from Ryanair. Their current promotion is for fares, including all taxes for 10 euros OR 10 pounds strerling, which makes 1 pound = 1 euro[:(].

[quote user="Moorejw"]Often the problem with over-priced houses arises because the owner states what price they want and the agency then adds their fees. Owners can be reluctant to listen to the agent's view on the value. The agent then has the choice to market the property at the price that the owner wants, or to walk away. If an agent is sure that a house will not sell or attract any interest at the inflated price then there is little point wasting time (and money) marketing it. Unfortunately, some agencies have targets for their agents to reach on the number of properties that they bring in and therefore they will continue to mandate an over-priced property.[/quote] But this does not explain where one agent has the property at one price and another has it at a price that differs greatly - i.e. 40,000 or 60,000 euros. The seller will be expecting less from one than the other if it sells at its asking price. Or perhaps it is down to target market for the agencies - i.e. French or British buyers. Paul

[quote user="samdebretagne"]Honestly, I wouldn't recommend any translating software - take the money you would've spent on that and enroll yourself in some French classes.  [/quote] We have been and are attending French classes - and also have a couple of sets of language CDs - so we have and are spending money it that direction. However, it is no good to us if we wish to write or translate something now and have to wait a couple of years until we are more proficient in the langauge. Hence my question which, whilst it might not produce perfect text will be better than what we can do now. Paul

[quote user="Mark"] Leaving do with extended family yesterday.  My microclimate is sweaty, throbbing and wishing it could be taken home....[:(] However - last Monday in an office!!!! [/quote] To quote Monty Python 'You lucky, lucky b*st*rd'[:D]

Found just a few threads doing a search which did not produce much so I thought I would post this. I would be grateful for recommendation for translation software that is not mega-expensive but does a reasonable job. Ideally, something that you can drop text into and it leaves it in the paragraphs etc. I am aware that no system will be 100% perfect as they work by following rules and language has very many and at times complex rules.  Have used Google. A french colleague who saw something that I had translated into French and sent to someone was horrified. In one sentence it had translated 'you' into the 'tu' form. So not to good on that score. Also tried Systran. However, having translated a couple of sentences free on the website it then tells you to buy the product if you want to translate any more and to be honest I want to know it works reasonably well before handing over my cash. Paul

[quote user="Macker"] I don't mean to sound corny, but your client has worked hard all year, planned their holiday in advance and are REALLY looking forward to that week/fortnight in the sun so it should be about what they want and not about inconvenience to you/stains on the towels/changing the linen/cost of washing machines etc etc etc. You are in a service industry in an extremely competitive market... what more can I say? [/quote] Macker what you have written is not corny - it is the words of someone who is very customer focussed. Best of luck with your business - I am sure you will get plenty of repeat bookings. Paul

You can also still buy the manual applicators in the UK. Brought back some memories. A friend had been trying for ages to sell his end of terrace house. He eventually got a buyer. The building society inspected the property but gave a bad report because of a cack coming down from the apex of the roof. We spent a day with the tyrolean machine (had previously been rendered) and muck slung the wall. A new buyer found and no problem with the inspection. Several years later the crack had not reappeared through our new coating.

[quote user="Quillan"] I am sorry but I have to disagree about the quality of French paint. I have used quite a lot of Leroy Merlin's own paint and have found it very good both in coverage and quality. To give an example, we had two rooms which had maroon ceilings (I kid you not) and wanted to paint them white. [/quote] Quillan I take it France has the same type of 'makeover' programmes that are shown in the UK! Always interests me that when these so called interior designers have their personal homes featured in magazines they never have rooms with dayglo orange walls, purple ceilings, rag mats etc. - it is only applied to the fools who volunteer their homes for ruination. Paul  

Looking at a few immobilier websites over the weekend and once again discovered some alarming differences in prices. One property (which had previously caught our eye but subsequent enquiries meant it was not for us) was nearly 40,000 euros on another site - the higher price being 237,600 - so this is not a million euro property where the difference can be explained by differing commission. There was also a number of other properties with large differences. A while back we went to see a property with an agent - priced at 259,000. It as indicated that the seller would take a lot less. After some pushing we were told he would probably take 200,000. However, the property was not for us. Whilst looking at sites subsequently, one had the same property (with no difference to what was included) for 198,500. A couple of weeks later we went back to the oiginal agent to look at some other properties and gave the agent a printout of the other agents details with the lower price. 'I'll talk to the boss about this'. However, they kept it advertised at the higher price. This to me says do some research - look at other agents and see if, when they have a property that interests, whether it is at the same price. In addition, on many occasions we have had agents say 'this property is overpriced' or 'the vendor will take less'. I know Will has said in another thread that he has ofered full price on two occassions because the properties were the right price. However, it would seem to me that some of the agents and vendors are trying it on. Paul

Thanks everyone. My expeiriences have been: Bank with the Internet arm of the 'worlds largest bank'. Can I keep my account when I move to France? We will make a decision on that when the time comes That to me equals 'I do not wish to bank with you An account with another high street bank - I was advised 'give the address of a friend or relative in the UK and it will be OK' - which seems somewhat dishonest. Will speak with some of those mentioned on here to get their reaction to this. Paul 

Thanks Cassis will give them a try. Booboo - yes we do have a French bank account. However, our French needs to improve a great deal more befoe we start trying to discuss insurance matters in French. Paul

Chief, if doing an MBA then best of luck to you. One of the things about doing an MBA is getting stuck in and finding out about things that you may know nothing about - and a large part of it is discussing the theory from the various books in relation to the practice and being challenging - this is the real part and the one on which a piece of work will be judged. I am indebted to all who assisted me when doing mine - I hasten to add just background information and not writing it for me. I am sorry that I cannot help you but I do hope that others who ae knowledgeable do. However, it does seem to be something that has more variables than the weather Paul  

Have to agree on the variables. We are a year down the line since starting to search for a house. Umpteen trips and one failed attempt to purchase - we turned up for the signing of the Compris, the vendor backed out. Probably be more changes to a project plan for moving to France than for the Wembley Stadium[:)] Missed the spreadsheet - would very much like to see that. Paul

I have read somewhere that one of the Triumph clubs can issue ctificate of compliance for Triumph cars - I have a TR7 DHC. Does anyone have a contact for the Triumph club in question. CS, I am sure that SD will reply, but there should be a certificate of conformity in the handbook of your husbands car - so he does not need to obtain anything else, so you can tell him to cheer up. Paul 

A little undecided where to post this. We are trying to assess what it will cost when we move to France. Obviously, one cost will be insurances. We are planning on moving to the South West (still desperately trying to find the right house) down near the Pyrenees. Any recommendations for an English speaking agent who would be able to give us an idea of insurance costs for cars, house (both property and contents), travel etc. Unfortunately, we could not make it to the exhibition at Olympia last weekend - hoping to be able to enquire there. Paul

Looked at a number of UK bank and building society websites and all seem to say that to have one you need to be UK resident. As our intention is to move permanently to France in the very near future which UK banks and building societies do allow you to have account when not UK resident? Have just looked at the Nationwide Flexaccount which someone was praising and that also states UK resident. Paul

[quote user="Llantony"] No need to be rude. As I clearly said, obviously the house would be cheaper for me as I wouldn't pay the agent's commission BUT the sellers would lose money if they gave me a cheaper price than the one the agent advertised (which does not include their commission).  So - as I asked in my original posting that started this thread about house prices (not surveys etc.) what's in it for the seller? [/quote] Llantony, from your comment about the seller getting less you must be the only person that offers the full asking price at the outset. If a property is advertised for, say, 200,000 euros would you offer this at the outset? 99.9% of people would not, they would make an offer, which would mean that the agent would go back to the seller and the seller would consider lowering their price or some form of negotiation would go on and, in most cases, an agreement made to pay less than the original asking price. What might be in it for the seller is if he says 'I'll let you have it less what would have been the agency fee, say 185,000. If you agreed to this he would have made - because this would have been his original figure that, in the example above he would have lowered to meet your offer, i.e. Agency Seller 185,000    Agency 15,000 Offer of 190,000 accepted Seller 176,000   Agency 14,000 No Agency Seller 185,000 Offer of 185,000 accepted Seller 185,000 So this is how the seller can make more money by dealing direct. Paul PS Will, on ou abortive attempt to purchase (we signed the Compris, the seller did not) the Notaire stated that his fees and the taxes were calculated on the total price, i.e. sellers part and agents part.

Yes, works of art the get out clauses, which often say that we have only surveyed what we could see. Now experience might tell if a crack is serious or not. But they might just err on the side of caution and lean towards something being potentially more serious just to cover themselves in case it is. Paul

[quote user="SusanAH"] self-catering    adjective, noun [U] UK (of a holiday) having a kitchen so that you can cook meals for yourself rather than having them provided for you (and clean up after yourself, presumably) Why do you stay in gites and not hotels? [/quote] Ah so I presume that is in the T&Cs as well: "any person staying in these premises MUST without exception cook their own meals within the premises" I will admit that it has been some time since I have stayed in self catering - normally tow our own self catering establishment now. However, in the past have chosen places in nice locations. They are more personal and homely than hotels. However, meals are taken in nice bars and restaurants. On holiday why cook? At home we go out for a meal as a treat / change. Why not all the time if on holiday? If we stay in a hotel we will often seek out a nice restaurant - hotel dining rooms often lack any character whatsoever. As for cleaning, yes, basic tidying up but no I do not wish to do a thorough mopping of floors etc and rquired to obtain a cleaning award at the end of a holiday. Hence I for one would be willing to pay for a cleaning service. Paul

There are some genralisations in this lot. Self catering - to me that means that there is the equipment to boil a kettle anything else is not required as on holiday I do not expect my wife nor myself to cook. Cleaning - as some others have said it is a holiday so cleaning service please. 9am leave - fine with me - even if we were travelling to catch a ferry, let's look at some of the countryside on route. You are running your businesses and some will be successful. But within the forums I have read moans that there are too many gites and B&Bs chasing too few punters. To go in for a bit of management stuff. There is one theory that businesses (and indeed personal relationships) need to change and the time for change is whilst successful. An example of leaving it too late is M&S who have been really struggling to reverse a decline. They believed that they were doing everything right but how wrong were they. Reading some of the comments it would eem that you, the gite owners, are doing the punters a very big favour letting them rent your gites. Seems a little Basil Fawlty to me. Marketing - yes. What group are your target audience (the travel industry does this - some have divisions that cater to different types of people whilst others have one niche market - 18/30, Saga etc). This will influence where you advertise. Knowing what the target group expect will help to provide them with what they want so that they enjoy their holiday and, in some cases, respect your property more. I can imagine that at times it is very hard work, specially being nice to obnoxious people, but in a sevice industry you have to take the rough with th smooth.

[quote user="TarnGranny"] Paul, the other side of the coin is interesting and may perhaps give you a little more insight into the problem. Around 92% of UK clients who send us property enquiries do not even have the courtesy to reply to the emails we send them. We reply straight away to any enquiry, we ask questions to find out exactly what the client is looking for, we get in touch with all our contacts in our area and find properties as near to the clients' requirements as possible and send off the property details to them, send them information on other things that may help them, and try to provide exactly what they would want (& more). We know that people are reading our emails, and we always follow up to see if we have done what the clients needed and if we can help them further - result, in 92% of cases, zilch! We know that our contacts in the area get the same results if UK clients go to them directly. I am afraid that those who treat people in France like dirt, when all they are doing is trying to help them, are getting the British a bad name and causing problems for the other 8% of people who are serious. I could tell you lots more, but this may help to explain why a lot of Immos can't be bothered to reply to emails from the UK, & I know a lot of them now are concentrating on the French buyers because they say that the British are a waste of time (We do our best to convince them otherwise, but it is difficult at times!). [/quote] Tarn Granny - I would agree that people should reply when an agent has sent details. However.... The agent has decided that they will use the Intranet as an advertising medium. They have a website - admittedly several seem to use commercially available webpages to show their properties so it is perhaps not exactly as they would have liked. Some of these include the option to switch between French and English. They also have with each property a little button that says 'More info on Property' or 'Details' etc. Clicking this takes you to a page where you can fill out a form requsting further details. One of the items required is an email address and along side this is 'MANDATORY'. IF AGENTS ARE NOT GOING TO REPLY WHY LIST THEIR HOUSES IN THIS MANNER? There are costs involved in this. They are advertising. Just as they might place an advert in Living France etc. If they are not going to respond then they are wasting their money. I can get by speaking face to face with an agent who does not speak English but it is very very difficult over the phone hence emailing and the agent and both of us can use translation software if needed. We are making frequent visits looking for a property. I do not wish to visit on spec, i.e. go to an agent and then see if they have what I am looking for. Experience has taught us that what is important is what the brief description and careful photos on the websites do not tell us. We wish to arrive and visit houses that, after our research, i.e. emails to and from the agents, seem to fit our requirements otherwise we are wasting both our time. As for people are 'trying to help them' - please this does not wash with me unless who ever it is, part of the Ganny network, agent etc are saying that there is no charge if a property is bought or, I believe, the Granny network makes a charge for property searches, please correct me if I am wrong. To sum up, if you are going to advetise in a particular way you must respond to enquiries - unless you do then you may miss a buyer - we are actively seeking a permanent residence with the cash sitting in the bank. Paul

I find the Immobiliers amazing. As has been said in this thread - people are not coming to view and sales are down. With that type of scenario I would expect the agents to be as keen as mustard to follow up on any enquiry. I have emailed some agents about properties and no reply. There was one on here who stated in a thread that they were super efficient etc. I emailed with our requirements and lo and behold, no reply. I emailed on before our last visit and did not get a reply. Whilst in rance we decided that we needed to see the property. I telephoned the agent who arranged for the owner to show us around. Unfortunately, the location was not quite right otherwise we would have bought it. I will admit that other agents do not let go and I have to give them 10 out of 10 for their efforts. It is not as though the agents are charging the 0.75 - 1.5 percent that they are charging in the UK. If the agents do not realise that when things are slow that alienating potential buyers will mean even less income then they deserve to bite the dust. If I was an owner trying to sell my property then I would be very miffed at the manner in which the agents operate - or more precisely do not operate. Perhaps if you are about to place your property on the market try emailing the agents about a property on their books to see the reaction and then choose those that offer the best service. Whilst it effectively costs you nothing for the sale (but UK or French system the agent is paid so it is all a little acadaemic) it always gives me the impression of desperation when every agent in an area has a particular house. I will admit I was shcoked by one agent yesterday. Emailed them am and they replied pm - they will ge a viewing out of this (the house looks as though it might suit) and I will pay closer attention to their site. Paul

I have seen some adverts for replacement double glazing. It asks 'why not let us install' and it will only be marginally dearer because on a supply only it is 19.6% TVA and supply and fit 5.5% TVA. So it would seem that 5.5% applies Paul