nimportequoi
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Posts posted by nimportequoi
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I'm not a prolific poster so my opinion doesn't matter, but I wasn't overjoyed when it was announced that Eslier was to be a Mod as I have been patronised by him on more than one occasion on the AI Brittany forum (under his other name of James dept 35 near Combourg).
Edit: I even complained to the admin or moderator or whatever it is on that forum on hat occasion because he was so rude, but never even got a response. Perhaps he is a mod there too?
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TU,I don't know if in my case it takes a while longer because I teach English for a language school and therefore do a different number of hours every month. I let them know the 1st/2nd of the month then they write out the cheque on the 15th. There are quite a few teachers at the language school, so this maybe why it takes longer.
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[quote user="Chauffour"]
As far as tax complications go, I don't know what the fuss is all about. A gite is classed as a micro-enterprise; you say how much you earned and they give you a tax bill based on your our own figures.
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Not always, it depends in your income, amongst other things.
Chauffour, I've had a peek at your website and I think your gites are lovely, I have one really picky complaint concerning your website, on your Farmhouse details, it should read: the Farmhouse comprises ...., it doesn't comprise of...
It's just a pet hate of mine, sorry!
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[quote user="Teamedup"]
SusanAH do you mean that you get paid on the 15th of the month following the one that you have worked? eg You worked in March and got your pay on the 15 of April.
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TU, yes, I get paid on the 15th of the month after I've worked.
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I pay about 21 - 22% in social contributions and get paid by cheque on the 15th of every month, I'm not sure if this is normal in France, in the UK it was usually at the end of the month. Some people also get paid a 13th month at Christmas - not me unfortunately!
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Different advertising works for different properties, it seems to depend on location, facilities offered etc. Internet advertising tends to be a little cheaper, but the brochures such as Chez Nous can bring in good business as well. If you go the internet way, you need to use quite a few different sites, trial and error will show which work for you. Holiday-rentals.com, visit-france.co.uk and frenchconnections.co.uk are some of the more established internet sites, but they don't work for everyone. Some internet sites offer free 3 month trials before you sign up, so you have a chance to see how they perform before commiting your money.
One thing I would say, if you are not on the coast, a pool (heated in Brittany!) is becoming an essential if you want to get even 12 weeks booked as holiday rentals, as is spending enough on marketing (around 5% of turnover).
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KKK, it was the Welsh long bow archers from the Hundred Years War provoking the French, the Plantagenets (Edward III) not the Normans.
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Jenny Rennes,
Americans say don't generally use the expression 'have got' for possession, only 'have', which sounds more formal to Brits and isn't used as much. So it's quite normal for them to reply in the way they do.
Have you got a pen? Yes I have.
Do you have a pen? Yes I do.
However, I hate it when American English and British English are mixed. My French students do this all the time, I'm fed up of hearing down town for town centre and garbage for rubbish.
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I used it once, but never had a booking from it. I think it is open to abuse - how do you know they are genuine enquiries? Also there maybe people who aren't serious about a holiday enquiring for one, so it is a waste of £1 in replying each time.
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Apart from the 3 year rental contract there (could be) other problems with long term lets such as the law that you are not allowed to evict people during the winter months (October - April) even when the rent isn't paid, which happened to a friend of mine's mother who let a flat. The lodger in question had a steady job, but even when it came to the summer and the rent wasn't paid in full, because the lodger had paid some rent, it was still impossible to evict them. I'm sure this case isn't the norm, but it is something to be careful of.
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[quote user="alnmike"]Could you not have claimed on your own isurance for the washing machine? I understand from my insurer that they will pay, but seek to recover from the guests direct or via their insurance? It does cost a little extra for contents insurance, but is at least a reassurance!
[/quote]It didn't think it worked like this in France, it is (as far as I am aware) impossible to get insurance cover for rental damage, it is the occupants who have to have personal insurance to cover this damage.
I would love the name of your insurance company if they do cover this!
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[quote user="Ab"]
DON,T FORGET SAFETY BOOTS,GOGLES,GLOVES AND PERHAPS SPECIAL TROUSERS AS THESE WEAPONS ARE LETHAL.
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and earplugs.
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[quote user="Jo Taylor"]
A list (keep it friendly and not too stern!) of house rules - such as don't let kids climb trees, pick flowers, throw stones at animals, go poking into the private bits of your property, use furniture as trampolines, use felt pens near soft furnishings, eat sweets and chocolate in bed... But keep it friendly - for instance the property bit can be phrased as what IS available for their use and enjoyment, other bits being private and 'not covered by your insurance'.
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I just want to back up everything Jo says - the above might sound petty, but if you have a nice, well furnished house, it doesn't hurt to remind people that it should be respected. I have added the above after having a football continuously kicked into fruit trees and on one occasion when I got asked next door by the guests I was horrified to see all the kids using one of the downstairs double beds as a trampoline.
The rubbish is important too, especially if you don't have it collected. I have fond memories from last summer of having to empty of a dustbin full of (used) nappies that weren't even in bags - I still have nightmares about the maggots!
I also leave a reminder of how to leave the house - I do the cleaning, but ask that they put back the furniture to the way it was when they arrived, if not you (or your cleaner) has to waste hours on a changover day searching for things. Oh, and what time they need to vacate the house on the departure day.
The insurance is also important - even though you may take a security deposit, if this doesn't cover the cost of the damage caused, the guest is liable on his/her personal insurance. Your own insurance won't cover this, so it is worth checking that they have this in place.
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I think you will find that the 35 hour week only applies to large companies (20+ employees?), my FT students get 9/10 weeks annual leave, but it isn't like that for everyone.
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I've been doing some lesson preparation for my French students (no doubt we will be discussing the current problems regarding unemployment and the CPE). Although it is a little out of date, it highlights the fact that living in France is great if you are a salarié, but not so good if you are an employer or entreprise as it is businesses who pay the biggest chunk of taxes, very different to the UK and Scandinavian countries. Sorry I can't cut and paste, I can't get to grips with the forum software at all!
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As far as vegetables are concerned - I always cook them al dente (steamed or partly boiled). Whenever I have had French friends to dinner they think it is strange and don't like eating vegetables cooked in this way. Likewise when I go to their houses for a meal, the vegetables are boiled/cooked to a tasteless pulp and I don't like that!
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Anton, maybe I'm being a bit thick here, but I didn't quite understand what your reply means with regard to showing an availability calendar or not?
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[quote user="SaligoBay"]
It's not really a paradise, working life in France. People seem to be constantly fearful.
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Unless they are fonctionnaires???
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The reason I asked is because last year I put an availablity calendar on my site, following an irate e mail I received from someone looking for property in the school holidays last year who was fed up of sending e mails to enquire about holidays when the period was already booked up. I agreed it was a waste of time, not only for the people enquiring, but for me in replying. However,I agree with Viva, if I saw an empty availablity calendar, it would probably put me off booking.
Other disadvantages of having availability are that you don't receive the e-mail address of the person, which you could use for marketing later on (although I have never done this myself and probably wouldn't). It is a problem too, when you have more than one unit and if the one they want is shown as booked up, you don't then have the option of offering alternative accommodation. I admit that my calendar is not 100% correct on this basis, however if all gites are booked, then they are shown as booked. One other disadvantage is that if you get an enquiry, you can at least give a friendly 'no' reply and you may get their business next year. Possibly
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Thanks for the info Jond and Miki, I'm with AXA and will check out the loss of income side of things. I don't suppose there is a policy which exisits which covers you against guest damage (over and above the security deposit)????
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Do you think it is better to show your property/ies availability on your website or not? I'm interested in the views of people who book rental accomodation as well as property owners.
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One more thing on this issue, a lot of people run their gite business as a micro-bic, but if you want to offer food as well, which is classed as a service, do you have to change your business régime (as per Chambre d'hotes)?
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I use Advantix on my dogs, which the vet recommended knowing that we had cats, so as long as you don't use the product directly on cats there doesn't seem to be any problems. I have to say that the Frontline cat spray worked a treat on getting rid of the rentrée nits of my little girl too!
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It's a great site - I've used it for the last few years for teaching English to adults and children out here. A good resource for British traditions (some of which I didn't know even existed!)
Re: For the Record
in The Complete France Post Bag
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