vickybear

We are selling our house to an English couple and will be changing the proceeds of the sale to sterling. Given the current state of the euro, does anyone know whether it's possible to get the Notaire to transfer the Deeds at our agreed sale price but have the proceeds paid to us through a UK solicitor in sterling at a rate agreed with the vendors. They have forward bought their euros at not a great rate and both sides will benefit if we can do this. It would be like giving them the house and then them making us a payment in the uk? I have asked the notaire via email as I'm in the UK now but he hasn't responded.   Any help gratefully received.

[quote user="legs_akimbo"] Having worked with hundreds and hundreds of plasterers over twenty five years I have yet to meet any that do not two coat skim, other than the diy'er who does not realise he is in the wrong or cowboy who just wants a quick barely passable finish, so quite frankly yes him indoors is doing it wrong,..................... but what do I know, I only run a plastering busines. The only single coat plasters are the ones designed as a very thick coat which is a backing and finish combined. [/quote]   I'm glad to see that you run a plastering business. I also ran a plastering business in England and sold it as a going concern. (But what do i know) Well for 1 it's how to spell business Regards Master-Plaster

Blimey, you mean 'him indoors' has only been doing half a job all these years???!!!  Good job none of his customers have noticed eh? He reckons it's all in the wrist movement.................... Having said that, a lot of his work on our house has been to finish on plasterboard so the ability to get a lovely smooth finish such as we have all over our house is more achievable.  All the above is good advice so I suppose it's whatever floats your boat.........or coats your float! We're off for a few days now, hence the early hour ( I should have been up 2 hours ago with himself but couldn't be roused! ) Have a good Christmas all and a very happy New Year.   VB

Not all the "pro's" two coat skim. !!!!!!! an excellent finish is available with one coat. John[quote user="legs_akimbo"] A crucial point to remember is when plaster skimming is to do your plastering in two seperate coats. The first coat should be 2 to 3mm thick, when this is all on the wall you should proceed to "flatten out" which is simply to run your trowell over the plaster to make it flat and take out the ridges and majority of "slacks" (holes and indents) as the plaster begins to "take up" (set) Then as previously stated you must use clean water in cleaned out buckets to make up a second gauge of skim. You should need roughly half of the previous amount.  This is called the laying in coat and is a tight coat on top of the first, this will give far more working time and will have covered any irregularities from the first coat.. Get this coat as flat as possible with the trowell then as it stiffens up splash with a little water to lubricate the trowell on the plaster surface working upwards from bottom left to your right. You can do this twice over then for a finish "polish", use your dry trowell to go over the plaster for a finsh. You will always struggle to get a decent finish by one coating...The pro's will always two coat skim. There is a U.K. plastering site run by a very nice guy who sells how to plastering guides on dvd/video for diy'ers and improvers if any one is interested. [/quote]

Hi there I have just used yesterday lutece 2000C that was dated 19/04/06. that would equate as old stock. Try not to use bags that have been open for a whilst. also do not mix plasters of different types. Always use clean fresh water. store your new bags in dry conditions and keep them off the floor. I am also an avid tea drinker but have not resorted to topping up a dry mix with the side effects. fresh water always does the trick. Good luck with your plastering. feel free to email. i have two rooms left to plaster in late January and you would be more than welcome to attend whilst the plastering is done.  (Roussines 16310)   John   (VB other half)

We're not sure yet. We've done nothing but work on the house for the last 18 months so want to take a bit of time to think.....possibly with my brothers in Spain but definately not to live there.....too crowded! The French countryside proved too quiet for us in the end........we've been torn for the last 6 months regarding what to do for the best then a couple walked past the house, admired it and 24 hours later they'd bought it!! Some things are just meant to be. I'm back in the UK in January for a couple of months on an intensive Dog Grooming course. Reckoned that it was a skill I could take with me wherever I lived, although to use it in France I would have to prove 3 years employment in the field..........so, unless I lie, I can't do it here. France certainly stifles those of us who might have wanted to make a new start career wise but by virtue of the fact it IS new, won't allow us to start at all. Hubbie has done his 'stage' but only wanted to work a couple of days per week.....of course the initial cotisations would have meant he had to work ALL week just to make any money at all...very frustrating. We won't work on the black so our choices are limited. So, what next....who knows?  

Actually 2 weeks might be enough if it helps anyone. We just need somewhere to stay between selling our house in Charente and getting access to our funds. We reckon 2 weeks will be enough but said a month just in case!

Go on, do it!!! The money you'd save would pay for that Caribbean cruise!!!!

Is there anyone out there who is happy to provide accomodation for a month commencing 28th February 2007, in exchange for plastering / general buidling work on their property? We don't need anything too special so long as we've got somehwhere to cook, and toilet/washing facilities. We come with 2 dogs and 2 cats tho, but they're all very well behaved......so's the husband!! This has GOT to be the offer of the year for someone in the midst of a renovation project? Him indoors can build, board, plaster, insulate, partition and tile. Contact by PM or Email please if you are interested. Thanks!

My husband is a plasterer and says to tell you Lutece 2000L. For a smooth finish put on a fairly thick coat, leave it ten minutes and then flatten off. Then give another 25-30 minutes and go over it with a wet taloche ( float with attached sponge ) to give it a grainy finish. Go over with a plastering trowel immediately after the taloche to flatten off. For an ultra smooth finish run your trowel over it the next morning. Lutece 2000L doesn't require your wall to be PVA'd and it doesn't need painting if you're ok with an off white shade! Hope this helps!

We're having a major clear out as a result of moving house from Charente and we have around 20 hardback books we want to sell, Jeffrey Archer, Wine guides, Murray Walker plus about the same amount of paperback fiction books. Does anyone know of anywhere which would buy them or sell them on my behalf? Thanks! As mentioned, we're in South Charente, not far from Angouleme.

Hi All, We may need somewhere to rent for 2 weeks after the sale of our French house completes on 28th February. If you have a property in the Charente / Dordoge / Limousin border area or know someone who might be able to rent theirs out for a couple of weeks, please could you let us know. We have a couple of pets but could put them in boarding if neccessary. Thanks.

Hi All, We may need somewhere to rent for 2 weeks after the sale of our French house completes on 28th February. If you have a property in the Charente / Dordoge / Limousin border area or know someone who might be able to rent theirs out for a couple of weeks, please could you let us know. We have a couple of pets but could put them in boarding if neccessary. Thanks.  

Thanks for the responses everyone!  The ladies are on the way to their new home Friday morning. We'll be sorry to see them go but they're going to a good home!

Does anyone know of a good carpet fitter in the Charente area? Or maybe someone who used to be a fitter who fancies a bit of Xmas spends?? Many thanks.

I like the sound of one month as there are only another 13 days to go! If I hear nothing within the month and commence work, how can I put my sign up outside with the permission number on it but, more worryingly, does the additional 2 months the neighbours have to complain still stand or is that just forfull P de C? If it's also relevant for a Declaration, what's the point of saying you can start after a month if you're asked to fill in the hole again within the next 2 months? If I could just get clarification on these points I can relax!  

Hi there   We are relocating and i have 6 laying chickens available. 4 Rhode island reds 1 Sussex light and a grey one. They have all done one laying season and have just gone through first moult. We are near Roussines area 16 close to borders of 87 & 24.   I would prefer they are kept for laying    :-) rather than the pot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   If you are interested please email [email protected] Thanks

Thanks Cassis, The file was hopefully complete as I saw the planning officer before submitting it and she told me then what was missing, so I went home and completed what she said. So assuming the dossier is complet, after one month from the date the Mairie said they had it can I start the work, or do I wait for something in writing saying I can. I also read somewhere that I have to oput something up outside. What is this and when does it go up? Sorry to ask further questions but my French could be better and I don't want to get it wrong.

OK, can't find the answer!!  Have searched for this and after the first 8 pages gave up! I submitted a Declaration de Travaux on 16th November to the Mairie which has been acknowledged in writing dated 16th November. I have no idea what happens next. Can I assume it was completed ok after 2 weeks? Can anyone let me know what I can expect to receive and when I can start work. It's for a window in the side of the house. Many thanks in advance.

Hi Andrew and Emma, We don't need anything taking back to Rochdale but while you're there you could say hello to my mum and dad for me......have a curry for us at the Asia on Tweedale Street........throw an apple core out of your car outside the Town Hall and get a £50 fine..........eat loads of Hollands Meat and Potato pies and Warburtons bread...........overpay for car parking in the town centre.....and finally, especially for my husband....have a chippie dinner from Wilbutts Lane!!!!!! There's some things you just can't get in the Charente!! Shelagh and John ps Andrew Pickles rings a bell??

Did you get any response from your post? We were told by a French retailer of Rayburns that there would be a problem with insurance if we brought an Esse / Rayburn in ( although we were talking 'used' ) . He advised us we had to buy here or the house insurance would be void in relation to any accidents arising from the stove? Best just to check this out in case it was true!!  We brought in a solid fuel Rayburn in the end.

Thanks Brit!! I'm going to go down the photo before and after route and hope for the best. Unsure what to expect as II now understand applying for permission for a window will set the planners bells ringing! I've created a new bedroom on my first floor as I'd been told that just because my first floor wasn't inhabited previously doesn't mean it isn't habitable!  The rooms up there have their own doorway ( full size, same as the rest of the house ) into them and there was a very poor staircase of sorts leading to them when we moved in. The mayor and an architect on this forum told me I didn't need any permissions to start using the rooms again. We've now sold the house and a condition of sale is putting these windows in and making the rooms suitable for use again and I must admit I'm worried whether, somewhere along the sale process, we'll find out we need all kinds of permissions we don't have. I have filled in an H1 form for half of the upstairs which is now another room, the room needing windows will need another H1.  It's all very confusing!!!![Www]

Thank you Clair, thank goodness for people like you on the forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Patience of a Saint!

Hi Clair, Thanks for your response and your link. If you've still got your H1 simulation form could you do me a big favour and tell me where you think I need to put in the size of our barn which is accessible through the house. I can't see whether I should put it as part of the house - section 41, part C ( scared this may incur extra tax ) or as 'constructions accessoires' secion 51. There is no mention of a grange in either section. I get more confused every time I pick these forms up [8-)]

Hi all, Have done a search and can't find exact answer so........ We need to put a window and velux in, window to side wall and velux to roof. I have the Declaration forma and am currently trying to understand what I have to complete / send. It came with a list of instructions and under the section headed 'In all Cases', point 2 asks for 'Un plan de masse de la construction cote dans les trois dimensions...........' As we are not constructiong anything why/how do we do this? Also, the form asks for SHOB and SHON details. Again, as this is only a window do we need to calculate all this? If anyone has successfully got permission for windows recently I'd be very grateful for a quick list of wjhat you sent / what you completed. Many 'hopeful' thanks in advance!!