Rosyposy_2001 Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 I would like to post a big thankyou to all those who first answered my request for help and advice a few months ago when we started to seriously hunt for a cottage in France - we arrived back in England today after signing the Acte de Vente on our dream holiday cottage!When we first started dreaming of a holiday cottage in France we did not know where to start - I posted a message asking for help and received so many messages from other readers, and the help was just invaluable! After 10 years of dreaming, and a few months of serious searching, we returned home yesterday with the documents to prove that we are now the proud owners of a lovely cottage in Brittany, completely renovated and just waiting for us to visit as soon as possible. I cannot thank Living France forum members enough for their help, concerning everything we should take with us, from the necessary papers to deposits etc. without which we may well have missed a golden opportunity to own our dream holiday home! It was originally something we thought we would never have the nerve to try, but with help from so many lovely people, we have done it. Strangely enough, we had no problems on the French side, all our problems came from delays in being able to access our own money, and on the last day, with the company who were supposed to transfer our funds and did not do so at the requested time, so that we did not know until the day we arrived in France to sign the final contract whether our money would be there, thus turning what should have been a wonderful experience into the most stressful 24 hours you can imagine! I will not name names, suffice to say that it was one of the biggest exchange firms who advertise with Living France!Anyway, after many emails, faxes and phone calls, the money arrived on the day we were due to sign and everything eventually went through.Please do not be put off by stories that notaires are not helpful - I know we were very lucky, but our notaire could not have done more! She spoke fluent English at all times and every document was printed in both English and French, so that at no time did we feel we did not know what we were signing. On the final day of completion , as she could not be present, a translator was provided so that we were aware of every detail of the transaction. (Incidentally, we bought our house under the terms of the Hague Convention, which cost us only 275 euros and was worth every penny for the peace of mind!)I would be glad to recommend the notaire to anyone who wishes to know where to go.A word of caution for those just starting out, we first saw our property through one of the web-sites who specialise in "hand-holding" throughout and after the purchase, but later found the same place through searching for notaires' web-sites. Not only did we save ourselves 2000, we also discovered that the owners knew absolutely nothing about this person and had no knowledge that their house was being advertised in this way - apparently this is common practice with French properties, but do not be fooled into thinking that all these people have permission from the owners to offer the properties, and often they do not full access to all the details about the property you are interested in. At the time of writing, the property is still on this person's website as being for sale - we know different! Once again, I would like to make it clear that this was an independant person, and I am NOT referring to people like the "Grannies", who I understand have helped a lot of people, although I have have no personal experience of them.A final word - if you prepare yourself well, and take all the advise the forum members have to offer, you CAN do it, never give up, you WILL find that dream cottage eventually, no matter how scared you are when you begin to search, and no matter how little you know when you start out.Hope to see you there one day!Thank you again Forum members, for all your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazanton Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Congratualtions Rosy!And welcome to Brittany!Cheers!! Belinda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redcap Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Hi Rosyposi!Do you mean you used the Communaute Universelle? Also where abouts is your Notaire? Anywhere near Pontivy?Best wishes,Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdey Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Congratulations on achieving your holiday cottage and here's wishing you many happy visitsElaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweetpea Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 What a wonderful letter!It will give 'newies' the incentive and confidence to proceed.May I wish you and your a very happy future and plenty of barbies at your new home!Best wishesSandie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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