Info Please
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3
Info Please
Now both our children have left home, we are thinking of selling up and moving, we have looked at Canada but flight times just make it too much fuss, Spain seems much of a muchness to England now and the land grab is worrying, France looks perfect, however, dont know much about the jobs market in France, Husband is a very good joiner who tiles, plumbs does electric etc etc and certainly in Canada they wanted him like yesterday, and in Spain plenty of expats who like english builders, but what about France, we speak no France though I understand basic and will learn, would it be best to buy a property with gite potential and stay self employed. Is there an expat community that likes English builders we were looking at Brittany or Limosin, any help would be really appreciated. Ta
#2
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15
Re: Info Please
Hi,
read throught this forum, plenty of info on it. Get books and do lots of research. Learn French. I would research the Gite market too to see if it is viable, there is a lot of them.
Be sure why you want to go.
read throught this forum, plenty of info on it. Get books and do lots of research. Learn French. I would research the Gite market too to see if it is viable, there is a lot of them.
Be sure why you want to go.
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3
Re: Info Please
Thanks Uriah
We want to go simply because, lifes not a rehersal we are coming upto 50 and its time to do something different.
We want to go simply because, lifes not a rehersal we are coming upto 50 and its time to do something different.
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15
Re: Info Please
You are so right, which is why we are heading out that way too.
I really recommend as much research and visits as you can muster before you go. The TV programes do not show the full picture - not good telly -. You can make it happen. Good luck to you.
I really recommend as much research and visits as you can muster before you go. The TV programes do not show the full picture - not good telly -. You can make it happen. Good luck to you.
#5
Re: Info Please
Now both our children have left home, we are thinking of selling up and moving, we have looked at Canada but flight times just make it too much fuss, Spain seems much of a muchness to England now and the land grab is worrying, France looks perfect, however, dont know much about the jobs market in France, Husband is a very good joiner who tiles, plumbs does electric etc etc and certainly in Canada they wanted him like yesterday, and in Spain plenty of expats who like english builders, but what about France, we speak no France though I understand basic and will learn, would it be best to buy a property with gite potential and stay self employed. Is there an expat community that likes English builders we were looking at Brittany or Limosin, any help would be really appreciated. Ta
#6
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,551
Re: Info Please
Theres also ariege in the midi p area shed loads of english people a good joiner would not go amiss here as there are to many claiming to be builders but with bad reps
but i would think hard about gites as they are 10 to the dozen and it would have to be pretty novel.
you could try opening an indian take away we would live outside you front door
jc
but i would think hard about gites as they are 10 to the dozen and it would have to be pretty novel.
you could try opening an indian take away we would live outside you front door
jc
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13
Re: Info Please
EVERYONE has got a gite and they're all vying for the same business. Maybe if you could do it differently, like have a cookery school or photography, then you could attract people from a different market.[/QUOTE]
Gites by their very nature are rural - I think you'll have more success choosing a better location where guests can stroll to the shops and restaurants if they don't feel like cooking. You will need to pay more initially for your property but you'll get more bookings especially out of season - and enjoy life to the full yourselves too....
Gites by their very nature are rural - I think you'll have more success choosing a better location where guests can stroll to the shops and restaurants if they don't feel like cooking. You will need to pay more initially for your property but you'll get more bookings especially out of season - and enjoy life to the full yourselves too....
#8
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3
Re: Info Please
Thanks for all your replies I now have a plan, a B & B with a couple of gites teaching cooking and serving up lavish indian meals at night the Gites will be used for sleep overs when people flock from all round France for the Indian food and the hubbys joinery skills will be used to fit multiple bunk beds in the Gites!! Perfect does anyone think its got legs??
#9
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,551
Re: Info Please
Thanks for all your replies I now have a plan, a B & B with a couple of gites teaching cooking and serving up lavish indian meals at night the Gites will be used for sleep overs when people flock from all round France for the Indian food and the hubbys joinery skills will be used to fit multiple bunk beds in the Gites!! Perfect does anyone think its got legs??
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 21
Re: Info Please
Hi Foxy
Think on and beware, There are no jobs in France, the french find it hard enough to find work, let alone the brits ect that arrive here with no french lang, we have been living in the charente region for 15 months now, and when i say you have to be a very special person to live this life style i mean it, france is 10 years behind the rest of the world, My advise would be to look at Canada again.
good luck
Think on and beware, There are no jobs in France, the french find it hard enough to find work, let alone the brits ect that arrive here with no french lang, we have been living in the charente region for 15 months now, and when i say you have to be a very special person to live this life style i mean it, france is 10 years behind the rest of the world, My advise would be to look at Canada again.
good luck