Enquiry for a builder

[Aurelie]

Hi all!

My boyfriend is an English builder and I’m French living currently in Milton Keynes, we are thinking of moving to France but we'd like to know the best areas for him to get some jobs. We believe that we should focus on regions where a lot of English are realocating but we don’t know which one they are!

Can you advise me on the best places to go and where the jobs are? If you don't know, can you tell me who I should ask? Any information is welcomed 

Thank you very much for your help.

Aurélie

[Wibblywobbly]

As no one else has replied, I thought I would add something.

First of all, as you are French you will be more than well aware of the registration, insurance and tax implications of setting up a business in France, so I won't dwell on that.

I don't necessarily believe that going to an area that is inhabited by the English is the best way forward, you are restricting your own business opportunities. With your native language and his skills you should be able to prosper anywhere, as long as your work is of the highest quality, you are reliable, and your prices are right.

My place is near Chateaubriant, and from personal experience I tried to employ French artisans to undertake work on my house. It was a bit of a nightmare as they either didn't turn up to provide quotes, turned up but didn't provide quotes, or gave me a start date and didn't turn up (though in fairness, this happened with an English builder too!).

Fortunately, I have friends in the area who knew a high quality English builder. The rest has been a breeze. I can exchange ideas, costs and alternatives etc. It has been so much easier being able to pick up the phone, or email, from the uk and discuss anything without translation or procedural problems.

There are building opportunities everywhere, but in this economic climate artisans, even native ones, are struggling to find work. The English are wary of spending capital on a property that will not increase it's value. Part of your business strategy will need to be strategic sales, rather than odd jobbing. Yes, people will always want odd jobs done, but they are not cost effective for the builder, so you need to think of large scale projects that will be clean, clear cut and bring in the money.

Communication will be your biggest sales advantage, and being able to explain the tax advantages, VAT, and grants available to an English customer, and offering to take care of all of the paperwork as part of the deal will give you a business advantage that most French artisans cannot compete with. Building up contacts with locals will also help, as for instance, installing a log burner is a specialist job.

It comes down to what your partner does? Building covers a whole spectrum of skills, so is he a bricklayer, carpenter, plumber or electrician? Can he put up stud walls, lay floors, or plaster walls. Is he experienced with French building materials and French building standards? You will be aware of the SIRET requirements.

Also consider that if you set up business in an area that has a high British population, then they in all probability have already had their houses built and/or renovated, so there will be little new work to be had. Better to find  an area that has satellite populations so that you can reach various areas without a huge amount of travel.

I hope that this gives you an insight into the challenges you will face, it is not a huge mountain to climb, and you already have a huge operating advantage, but pick your patch carefully, and understand what your market is.

Rob G