Julia01

Thanks very much, dont think my budget will stretch to a project manager. How do people get quotes from the time they see a property to the time they actually put down the deposit, or is that a really silly question??!!!!!

I am barn hunting in Mayenne in the next few weeks and hope to find what im looking for. Can anyone recommend a builder as i need a quote before i go ahead and purchase. It would be for full renovation work, i understand from reading the forums that i should be looking for seperate tradesmen with specialist skills to renovate, so recommendations for plumbers, electricians etc would be greatly appretiated.

Thanks very much, i'll give Jim a call aswell.

Thanks everyone, very helpful, will definately give graham a call.

I am barn hunting in october and am not sure how i go about choosing an architect. Can anyone recommend an english speaking architect , am in Mayenne 53, and also do they charge an initial fee to come and have a look at a barn before you have bought it, as i would like to know if what i plan to do is feasible before i purchase, thanks for any information.

hi, ive just been looking into this. If you go onto pay as you go france there are some english companies who will post you a chip, the phone number is french, you can either have a pay as you go where the bill is taken off your visa monthly so you dont run out, i think this was 9.99 pounds per month, or you can pay a one off fee of 35pounds and then top up. Although its done through the uk it is french price phone calls so you recieve french incoming calls free etc. Hope that helps if you dont find anything that end, am sure you can purchase phone aswell if you dont have one!  julia

oh ok but what happens if i buy the french property before my divorce comes through, does that affect me in anyway by owning a property in my name but still be married?

Well that sounds promising, thanks. Luckily i sorted out the kids BCG's when they were babies!!

Thanks for that everyone.  Thats been a great help. So all I need to do for my children to attend school is  their health book? Does anyone know what happens if you are in temporary accomodation whilst house hunting, is it easy to get kids into temporary school, has anyone done this? thanks

I am moving to France soon and would like to know exactly what i need translated into french. I am going to be claiming child benefit and income support for a while until i get myself sorted out. Do i need my marriage certifate translated into french, I am getting divorced but am keeping my married name. I am going to buy a property. How do i organise a translation, do i need to take the documents somewhere or can i post them (in the UK). Hope someone can advise, thanks.

Ok ive just phoned them........ Unless i am recieving some kind of income support from the UK which i will not be doing or if i work for a travel company for example so am recieving  uk sallery i cannot claim child benefit.  I could ask my ex husband to claim the child benefit as he will still be in england, and he can send it to me, but for me that would not work! So there you go.  For anyone reading this who needs to know, you have to ask for a green form fill it it and the day you leave for France the child benefit is stopped and you take a letter to office in France to claim there, I will be entitled to it there.

This is quite funny how this coversation has turned out, considering the title of this thread.......Its certainly given me other things to think about...thanks everyone.

The problem is that everyone is an individual case.  I have read what everyone has said and am going to call the child benefit office tomorrow, i have also asked a french friend to speak to french office for me to get some details. I will post the outcome just incase anybody is going through same thing and might find it interesting.

Hi Debra, I just telephoned the child tax credit in Uk and they have advised that if i move abroad i will no longer be entitled to tax credits in the UK.

Thanks, I totally agree but unfortunately havent got much choice!!