Stan Streason

I will own my first french property (second home) by the end of the month and I am sure that there are people on here who have been through all this before so a number of silly questions spread over a number of sections, if you will indulge me. The property I am purchasing has a pool and a pump in the pool house (garden shed).  I have never had a pool before and know absolutely nothing about their upkeep.  I am assuming that there will be no instruction book present when we take possession. Is there a complete idiots guide please that would highlight what needs to be done or is it best in the long run to call in a professional the first time to effectively prepare the pool for summer and teach me how to operate it? Thanks in advance.

I will own my first french property by the end of the month and I am sure that there are people on here who have been through all this before so a number of silly questions spread over a number of sections, if you will indulge me. Cheapest way to get an internet connection for a second home please?.  I have an unlimited calls, work paid for mobile so calls are no problem but was wondering if I had to go through all the fuss of getting a fixed phone line with regular monthly costs just to get an internet connection? I have a wireless enabled laptop and guess I could always find a Macdonalds.  How prevalant are free Wi-Fi zones outside of French cities?  Is there an equivalent of BT openzone for example where for a fee I can log on to a number of centrally provided hotspots?  Not as ideal as getting something in the house but better than nothing. I think dial up charges with my 3G card are going to be astronomical. Thanks in advance

I will own my first french property (second home) by the end of the month and I am sure that there are people on here who have been through all this before so a number of silly questions spread over a number of sections, if you will indulge me. I have been working on the relative costs of driving or flying (Deux Sevres) and for me a 2-4 day trip is cheaper to fly, 4-7 days is marginally cheaper to drive (although because car hire is virtually unchanged between 4 and 7 days it is marginal and may not be worth the effort) - anything over 7 days is a definate drive.  I have a spare car at home and would love to leave it in France but our new house is about 50 miles from the nearest airport. My question is therefore does anyone know of any cost efficient long term parking within striking distance of the 4 Ryanair served local airports (La Rochelle, Poitiers, Limoges or Angouleme)?  Alternatively whats the cheapest way to regularly get from the airport to my house if I assume airport taxis are expensive? Thanks

Have recently purchased Norton 360 and had to take it off my machine after a couple of weeks and completely reinstall windows as it was just using up too much processor power.  The expert I spoke to said it was only suitable for very high spec machines. Am currently running a 30 day trial on Bitdefender (will cost about £14 if I take it up) - looks good so far.  Computer runs normally again. Its had very good reviews.

A note from a punter.    I have never run any form of hotel/restaurant but stayed in many.  I have never asked that particular question but from recent events I have some sympathy.  In fact in my view the correct question (if one had the nerve to ask it – which I don’t) should have been “do you have a cook or a chef?”   In the last few months, searching for a second home, I have stayed in a number of establishments.  The difference between 2 highlights my point.   In both cases the food was well cooked, of good quality and plentiful.  Certainly nothing to complain about.   The food in the first establishment however could have been cooked by my mother-in-law.  Meat either roast or grilled, boiled veg, roast potatoes, chips or mash.  Very similar to what many people think of as home made English cooking as produced in pubs restaurants up and down the country.   The second establishment you could tell even a simple steak had been properly seasoned, unusual vegetables had interesting flavours, different types of bread offered etc etc.   To be honest I cannot even remember if the second place was more expensive than the first but that was the one we returned to.   So don’t be upset or consider it rude.  Some of us put greater priority on our food than others.  You wouldn’t be upset at “do you have a pool?” so why is “what’s on the menu?” considered a personal sleight.  I know what I consider more important.

We are just in the middle of buying and have struck an excellent deal.with a british vendor.  A property advertised at €205k in the summer is being purchased for well well under €150k now.  We are doing a sterling deal and my actual final investment has gone down by about £20k from what it would of cost me if I had paid full price in the summer (to reflect growing desparation of sellers), I am only at currency risk for about €25k of fees. (has lost me about £1k from agreeing a price to purchasing currency) Nord Charente Homes are now advertising sterling deals on their website.  The local notaire is happy with me lodging funds with a uk solicitor. I guess my only downside is that I have a very low euro base cost for gains when I come to sell.

Thank you everyone.  French bank account it is then.

Just in the process of purchasing a holiday home in France.  I am using my own funds and do not need a mortgage. I currently have an "offshore" euro account with LloydsTSB which gives me a euro debit and credit card.  I currently use these on various trips to Eurozone and top the account up from time to time using a forex broker when the rate looks OK.  (Fat chance of that at the moment). Is there any requirement for me to have an account with a French bank when I have the house or can I continue with my current arrangement? Thanks in advance

I am new to all this and currently purchasing my first property in France.  This is also my first post.  Touch wood it has all been easy so far.   My vendor is English and will eventually want sterling and I refused to agree anything other than a sterling exposure for myself.  In practical terms I set out what I was prepared to pay in sterling and the agent worked back taking out the fees (at 1.15 but it was 2 weeks ago) coming up with a balance for the purchase price in sterling.  This offer was accepted.   I then found an English speaking Notaire (agent suggested one), emailed them and asked if they were prepared to act jointly, (fees get split so no extra) on the basis that the funds never actually hit Euros or France.    They agreed so we have a mutually agreed UK solicitor where I will place the funds who will pay them out at the behest of the Notaire to the vendor.  The contract mentions the sterling price as primary with a calculated euro price for French taxes etc.   The solicitor cost is minimal.   Am waiting for the catch because everyone tells me it’s not supposed to be as easy as this, or is it just a buyers market so I can dictate and even the notaires are having to bend to get work?