sunnyd

[quote user="Benjamin"]There is, possibly, a very sceptical scenario that could be unfolding for your friends. Estate Agent loosely tries to explain what could happen under French law and advises your friends that, to avoid any possible repercussions, they should allow him to market the property at the price they paid for it plus a reasonable percentage that would avoid your friends having to pay over some of the profit to the previous owner. Result - house goes on the market at less than current market value and sells very quickly. Agent trousers his commission and receives only a bit less than he would have done if it had sold for the true market value. Only a thought. Benjamin [/quote]   I had this happen in the last month. The agent that sold us the property was asked to mandate it for its sale again, they said that it was worth the same as we paid for it (without leaving their desk or mention the price scenario), simply said that property prices had not moved in the area. Yet, two seperate valuations showed us that the property is now worth 110,000 Euros more than we originally paid. We knew it was a bargain when we bought it but the difference is remarkable. We moved into the house 1 year ago but signed the compromise 2 years ago November coming. Hopefully when a buyer is found, the Notaire will take into account that the compromise was actually signed (therefore the property sold) 2 years ago November coming. We have done no renovations to the property except re decorate and clean it, properly How can it be deemed that a sort of foul play has been comitted by the current owner as to the price paid, surely the dispute should be with the agents that must have valued it well below market value originally. Are there any other implications to this scenario that we as sellers cannot see? What if the seller wanted to sell the property under a certain value for their own tax reasons? (would they then still be willing to claim "lesion", I doubt it). So, it begs that the scenario above could indeed be in force.

[quote]Be my guest, sue me then ! How's it going to read ? The person with no name sues Miki, well at least you would have to break cover and then we will find out about you!!"Your comments re internet and w...[/quote] "" Oh and another thing...read my text, I don't want your help, never did, never asked (only in jest)I give help freely, something you simply would not do and that is just selfish. "" Ouf of context, i will help anyone at any time, but Internet promotion and website optimisation you should be aware of is a very costly business and no one, thats no one, will part with their knowledge on that count. Be aware, you where and are the exception to my offer of free help made to all earlier, you have it all already and doesnt everyone know it, keep up the good work but be happy

[quote]SunnyD, My guess would be that you are targeting a particular niche in the market. Nothing wrong in that of course, but it's just the feeling I get from reading your posts. I could easily be wro...[/quote] Thanks, a voice of reason does exist here........ But you suggest it is just me that could be doing that. I have never said anything less than what I do, but others think I should be doing it their way only for it to be correct. They also should know from experience, different areas of France have different rules and regulations. In France, nothing is black and white, hence confusion making a big grey area in the middle where mis understandings come into play. You cannot tar many things in france with the same brush.  

[quote]SunnyD, My guess would be that you are targeting a particular niche in the market. Nothing wrong in that of course, but it's just the feeling I get from reading your posts. I could easily be wro...[/quote] "“The term "Guest" should be refrased into "Paying customer" - Thats what they are, you have advertised and encouraged their custom, if they are paying, please appreciate that major fact.”" "That’s not a comment surely, that is more a command to see something that we think we might just already know." Not a command by any means, you shoose to see or take it that way, your choice. "“It appears that most B&B owners here, want the monies but not the anaomlies of folk, this should of been thoroughly thought through before the £/€ signs appeared in their eyes.”" QThat was a comment aimed at people who know their trade, from someone with a room or two to let, whilst the rest of us have worked out how to tat the clienst well enough to have a good business, we are accused of just wanting the money without the problems, what are we then stupid and just do it to annoy our clients. We have been in the game a long, long while, and we think we may just have it right by now! Your post tells us we should have known how to run it before we started, well sorry….only experience means anything in this business and I will accept no other way." It was a comment aimed at people that cannot or did not expect to oddities of paying customers and yes, of course with experience you learn. Then you too know and accept the anomolies of folk, if you choose to complain about it, you still have not accepted it even with experience. The a little classic : “…What has another income got to do with running an accommodation business????? I fail to see any corelation to this subject. If you are running a business, you run it right to the best of your ability.” It has a lot to do with it, how handy to have some interest accruing annually behind you and a nice capital in the bank ! Sure makes it easier to run any business. “….I do not have another income, and as said earlier, it would of been a mistake originally to buy a property too large that would require needing guaranteed business income. People have a choice to cut the cloth to suite their needs and live with that descision” ""Oh and here’s another of your quotes saying how long you had been here doing B&B “I also think the assumption here is that I have just moved to France last week, I have lived here 5 years and have all of the experience that brings 2 There’s that word again…experience, yet you have said I have educated you, really is a bit worrying that part. For someone who has done so much, 5 years is enough to teach you most of what you need to know, surely ? "" Whoops here we go again, NO INCOME, ones little stash simply forgotten eh ? do you also tell the Impôts that you have no other income ? Or just for our benefit."" I thought you new all of the rules and regs in France....... All of the above is pure drivvel. I do not have another income, my property is not where I chose to keep my funds, others do and have to work hard to keep up a certain standard of living, there choice.  I use my past assets for now, others choose to keep it in bricks and morter for cashing in in later in life, I again, because of my artners two heart attacks chose to make the most of that monies now. Very simple to understand really. Appologies to all who are tired of this thread but I will not be misunderstood and meanings put into those words by someone    

[quote]Crikey , What a thread !!!! I thought Sunny D was a drink, with artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, I do know it has a funny taste,,,yuk... Has this got anything to do with this, ...[/quote] Nought to do with the drink, Shas ;-) It was how I was feeling, off the top of my head when I signed up..........Obviously as you have read, that taste is now decidedly sour..........

[quote]OK sunnyd, I will admit that I don’t want or need any help from you.So now I am asking you to help others who may well need your help. Tell me where you are and I will tell only those hours away from ...[/quote] Now I am childish as well as a liar and whatever else you have already branded me on here. You, thus far have managed to bludgeon a new members honesty, business skils etc etc and told me what I can and cannot do with my business and available earned skills. So I am supposed to just take it on the chin and offer you advice free gratis after all of the above and mores abuse hurling. Get real, thats not childish, think again about your actions and accusations in a public place (which believe me (once at least), that is still seen as slander). At this point again I will echo my last obviously childish and unhelpful offer " if someone contacted me privately, I would see if there were glaring problems with their website, that though would not include any detailed remedies per say " Your comments re internet and website help does show that you know very little about this particular side of promotion. It is nothing to do with any competition, as I have already clearly stated once. It is a practice that can be applied to any business therefore any given help at all is beneficial to not only accommodation owners. That is why it costs so much to have the job done by any proffessional, even then, they would do the work for you or recommend what to do but not tell you exactly the reasons and logic behing it for you to apply it elsewhere. Once again, third or fourth time of asking- " I joined here to give comments as well as take them, not to be questioned and constantly branded as a liar. " 

[quote]>>>Words now fail me at the ineptitude to accept another's word and to accuse them of lying point blank. Get on and get over it, some people do it differently, have different views and it works just g...[/quote] Gay, please re read the thread, what comments have I made that have "Judged" anyone? Again, I have told how I run things, never once have I "Told" anyone they "should" be doing the same. Yes, I did work in website promotion and optimisation, successfully, previously I worked for 20 years on a reatail shop floor business, which was my own business. If that does not convince you of my people experience, maybe a letter from my Parents may help? I have no worries about competitors or anyone stealing as you put it (people walk with their feet at all times). What I am not prepared to do is give out information that can be applied to promote any business or company, careless of what type. Its a little naieve to think or even ask someone to do that in all honesty. But, if someone contacted me privately, I would see if there were glaring problems with their website, that though would not include any detailed remedies per say.......

[quote]Once again sunnyd, no answers and nothing to back up your claims. I know what we call people like that.................OK, assume we are all doing no good then and, we are all totally jealous of someo...[/quote] What backing of the truth, what makes you think that you even have the right to ask for such a thing? None, my word is my bond, trite but take it as read or disbelieve and accuse of being a liar as you obviously will...... "OK, assume we are all doing no good then and, we are all totally jealous of someone with a 99% rate occupancy, so please help us to find the way to fill all our humble abodes to that percentage." You are doing everything correctly anyway...........or have I stupidly missunderstood all of your remarks and accusations "What could me more generous than to help fellow members of LF ?"...... Maybe you should of thought of this in your responses to my honest comments and this total farce of a thread could have taken a completely different route for all. I joined here to give comments as well as take them, not to be questioned and constantly branded as a liar. Please go back to my previous responses asking you to quote my telling everyone and anyone how to run their businesses, as yet you havent cared to back up such accusations

[quote]Come on Sunnyd!!! We have all been open with our details and websites are you ashamed of yours? Or if its so good we may all want to pack up and get B and B s there! If it is so good and wonderful a...[/quote] Hi Lizzy H, Sorry, but as you will be well aware, trade secrets do not come under the loosly used "Honesty" lablel in the real world. Many years of hard work have led to my knowledge, it cannot be parted with that easily. I would never stoop low enough to pay for any paid inclusions, my money is valuable to me, you do not have and cow and go out and buy milk! There is far more to website promotion and optimisation than just keywords. I know that is why others choose to go via a large advertising website, fighting for customers out of many hundreds. I would offer to look over your website and give advice, but, as you will be aware on this forum, someone would tell you that "I cannot legally" do that without a registered business! I really do not see why you view me as being in a hole of some kind, if you think also that I have "lied" (unless you knew all about me, I assume that frustration of others success would bring that analogy out) or told others how they should run their businesses, again, please quote me exactly in context. The weather is brilliant here again today and the guests are out signing the "compromise" for their new French property they viewed yesterday.

[quote]Iam not worried about you in the sligtest, waht doe sconcern me is how nothing seems to ring true, you say one thong one minute, then move the goalposts and say something completely contradictory to w...[/quote] "" Be interesting Ejc to see if you get an answer ? Surely sunnyd, it would help you to get some feedback on your site, I know the rest of us have looked at each others places and often had some good advice given, we even have our own site, kindly donated by Arnold, where most of us can be found but as that was your game before (IT) then you will know you have got it bang on I guess. "" The conceit of it all! Believe me, as stated before, that was my previous job in the UK, you now want me to let you tell me how to do it, come on........Shot and foot come to mind As you well know and cannot put here in print, I have never told anyone how to run there business, purely pointed out my "Personal" opinion on what I do. Again you cannot or will not believe tha FACT, that I am in a great tourist village, with not one other accommodation within it. There are pleanty of gites with pools on the periphery but the majority I find, do not want to spend that amount of money to utilise only a small part of it. The property was very inexpensive as stated (Under 100,000 Euros) and needed hardly any work, yet still you cannot believe that either. Some people can still grab a bargain you know,again, as said before, right place right time. Words now fail me at the ineptitude to accept anothers word and to accuse them of lying point blank. Get on and get over it, some people do it differently, have dfferent views and it works just great

[quote]You’re right, there are some real dogs in the 1 & 2 star hotel category but it is entirely possible to find a charmer! I like the exclamation mark dewima !! Yes it is difficult isn't it !Charm, comfor...[/quote] Miki..........You really are going overboard about my own personal views, and to give an answer, in the same manner as your own, what are you worried about? There must be something for you read what you like into others views. I have never said at any time how anyone SHOULD run their ownbusiness, purely how I see things. If I have never said "You should be doing this" as you have, or, "You cannot do that" or "You are violating the codes", if I have please quote them contextually correctly. You on the other hand, are directly telling me what I can, cannot and should be doing. I am not here to try and drum up business by posting my website url at every given chance, I do not need to, it is already Google, Yahoo, MSN etc etc No1 for my particular search terms. I have never needed to advertise on a major site competing against hundreds of properties (creating and promoting websites WAS my business in the UK). The hosile response to personal views, that were not orders, as you see want to interpret them as, shows me that I am right not to post my website URL here ever, because there would obviously be something wrong with that too. I will run my business as I see fit, you and everyone else will run theirs in the same manner, if it works for you and them, great. I doubt that I am the first to face a tirade of "Liar" etc etc from you and no doubt will not be the last. As you should also be aware, most French Law is ambiguous, different areas require different criteria to be met. Be assured, all of mine are met for my area. In fact, the local Tourist office asked if we were with any other organisation and it did not make one jots difference to them. That may be because they are desperate for my accommodation here, if it were somewhere that has reached overkill, the need and criteria I could understand, may well be different. I enjoy what I am doing, am not stressed and really do have very happy guests, the latter being THE most important factor.

[quote]What are we comparing dewima. Shall we start comparing basic Inns to say the Negresco in Nice. At some point we all have to accept that there are many forms of lodging available to the public. We do ...[/quote] If I state I have no other income, it means exactly that, I HAVE NO OTHER INCOME. You will choose to believe what you will and see what you want to see within my comments. For your info, and you have no right to question, the current property is a new one, 2 months in and in a different department (historical Town cente, 300 yds from the tourist office ;-) and our ideal), hence, just starting again. An example that you may well understand, please try hard ;-) - If I had bought a property with 8 bedroom, to let 5, how much would it have cost me in a great location? 7-800,000 Euros -more + the upkeep? Instead, I CHOSE to buy a smaller one, in the same said great location for under 100,000 ready to go, right place right time, Hoorah...........Brilliant business savvy. I still have all of the left over monies earning interest, I do not have work myself silly to recoup. That is cutting your cloth, everyones choice as said afore. If you are happy at home, with your partner etc etcas I am, you really do not miss socialising with people that you have nothing in common with except being a local expat, we choose our own company and our guests. They are 99% of the time, full of life, full of excitement and certainly not bitching about Mary down the road. Sad, I dont think so by a long chalk. Of course, a new area and new french friends are in the making, they too will know the score re the working of our accommodation and they will be more than welcome to visit us anytime.  

[quote]Sunny D. Is your business actually registered with anyone ? I am a little concerned by this, solely because I wouldn't want any new readers to be mislead>>>My seasons will not be full to bursting as I...[/quote] Yes, Gay, the accommodation is registered with the tourist office 300 mtrs away. Now you are taking the suggestion of staying in all day to the extreme. The idea was that people should be out of their paid accommodation from around 10am to early evening or whenenver the owner returned from whatever they wanted/needed to do. I have never intimated that these "room" persons would not go out at certain times for a walk and for their meals. I do not prepare food for guests at any other time, breakfast only.  Of course if someone is ill in their room, the Doctor will be called, that stands to reason.

[quote]hi all! I have been watching this thread with interest and sometimes sheer amazement! I'm not into long drawn out arguments but on this occasion I felt as though I had to acknowledge my support for M...[/quote] This drawn out thread has been made longer because people are not willing to see or discuss sensibly any other point of view. Which is what it is, a point of view. Firstly.....What does B&B stand for exactly, thats B&B not Td'Hote or Hotel, B&B Bed and Breakfast. I am not talking about any other accommodation or the rules that apply to them. My thoughts on the size of accommodation and what that should make it in my eyes etc are my own, you dont have to like them or agree with them. " This part of the forum is for B and B owners to discuss our buisness and get advice from each other not to pull peoples advice apart! " Neither is it to pull peoples opinions apart on other accommodation types because those opinions differ from the "norm". My opinions are up for discussion just as much as the next mans. If the idea is to agree all of the time on everthing, what a bore that would be, yet you intimate that my feelings are not welcome here. Sorry, they are here and am sure a lot of people are learning a lot from the thread. That is the idea I assume? " Also I have found people who have no experience in the trade and don't work in it have the habit of telling us our jobs just cos they have stayed in a b and b once! I would 'nt go to your place of work and tell you your job would I! " And if you would care to READ my previous comments you would not be assuming that I have no experience in B&B I am not trying to tell anyone there job, I believe that people should have the option to stay in their B&B accommodation all day if they choose.

[quote]Just a quick question - would you then leave guests in your home while you go out to shop etc? I would guess that this would invalidate most insurances. If not - then it means completely arranging you...[/quote] I would like to be informed what I have suggested, exactly, that you think contravenes the GdF code? There is no point to your views if you do not share them properly and give the right information within its text to back your thoughts. I must have a chance to answer your claim precisely. No, I do not leave my property unatended at any time but at the same time do not dance attendance to any guests. I live in my home, I do not view it as a workplace that I need to get away from like many others obviously do. My partner and I share the trips to the supermarket etc when we need to go. As for a social life, our clients fullfill that need, we are out again tonight by invitation. We have no wish to get into the local expat scene for socialising, that descision was born from very early experience. Therefore we feel that we miss nothing because of our labours, we love it, strange but true I also think the assumption here is that I have just moved to France last week, I have lived here 5 years and have all of the experience that brings.