FRENCH HOUSE: HOW TO FIND IT AND BUY IT
IT`S EASY PEASY YOU THINK, BUT UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE IT, YOU WILL NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE!
I WOULD NEVER ADVISE ANYBODY JUST TO SELL UP AND SETTLE IN A NEW COUNTRY, THIS CAN LEAD TO DISASTER. THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO KEEP A FOOTHOLD IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY AND BUY A SECOND HOME IN FRANCE.
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO RENT A HOUSE OR FLAT IN THE AREA OF YOUR CHOICE SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A PROPER TASTE OF WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE BEFORE COMMITTING YOURSELF.
YOUR OWN PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS WILL DICTATE WHAT TYPE OF PROPERTY AND WHERE IT WILL BE LOCATED, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT I ORIGINALLY WANTED WAS A LARGE BARN WHERE I COULD BUILD A SMALL PREFABRICATED WOOD LIVING QUARTERS INSIDE THE BARN LOCATED AT ONE END AND HAVE THE REST OF THE BARN TO USE FOR MY BENTLEY BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THE DISTAFF SIDE SOON BLEW THAT IDEA OUT OF THE WATER AND WE ENDED UP WITH A VILLA IN THE CENTRE OF TOWN BUT WITH A 100 SQ METRES OF WORKSHOP AND GARAGE WHICH HAS NOW BECOME CHOC A BLOCK WITH ALL THE CARS, SPARES AND MACHINERY THAT A DEDICATED VINTAGENT JUST CANNOT DO WITHOUT!
JUST DUST OFF THAT KEYBOARD, SWITCH ON THE GAMES MACHINE GO INTO GOOGLE AND TYPE IN FRENCH HOUSE. TYPICALLY YOU WILL GET ABOUT NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION HITS, THAT`S A BIT OF A HEAD SCRATCHER FOR A START.
OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL HAVE TO BE A BIT MORE SELECTIVE ABOUT YOUR SEARCH. I IMAGINE THAT YOU WILL HAVE BEEN ENCHANTED IN PAST HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE BY THE LOCATION THAT YOU WERE STAYING IN AND IMAGINED THAT YOU WOULD LIKE A SECOND HOME THERE, OR SEEN A TOWN OR VILLAGE ON THE TELLY THAT LIT YOUR FIRE. UNFORTUNATELY MANY HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS THAT YOU LIKED IN THE PAST ARE NOT REALLY SUITABLE TO LIVE IN DURING THE WINTER, DUE TO MANY OF THE AMENITIES CLOSING DOWN AFTER THE SUMMER SEASON.
I WOULD NEVER ADVISE ANYBODY JUST TO SELL UP AND SETTLE IN A NEW COUNTRY, THIS CAN LEAD TO DISASTER. THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO KEEP A FOOTHOLD IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY AND BUY A SECOND HOME IN FRANCE.
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO RENT A HOUSE OR FLAT IN THE AREA OF YOUR CHOICE SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A PROPER TASTE OF WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE BEFORE COMMITTING YOURSELF.
YOUR OWN PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS WILL DICTATE WHAT TYPE OF PROPERTY AND WHERE IT WILL BE LOCATED, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT I ORIGINALLY WANTED WAS A LARGE BARN WHERE I COULD BUILD A SMALL PREFABRICATED WOOD LIVING QUARTERS INSIDE THE BARN LOCATED AT ONE END AND HAVE THE REST OF THE BARN TO USE FOR MY BENTLEY BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THE DISTAFF SIDE SOON BLEW THAT IDEA OUT OF THE WATER AND WE ENDED UP WITH A VILLA IN THE CENTRE OF TOWN BUT WITH A 100 SQ METRES OF WORKSHOP AND GARAGE WHICH HAS NOW BECOME CHOC A BLOCK WITH ALL THE CARS, SPARES AND MACHINERY THAT A DEDICATED VINTAGENT JUST CANNOT DO WITHOUT!
JUST DUST OFF THAT KEYBOARD, SWITCH ON THE GAMES MACHINE GO INTO GOOGLE AND TYPE IN FRENCH HOUSE. TYPICALLY YOU WILL GET ABOUT NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY MILLION HITS, THAT`S A BIT OF A HEAD SCRATCHER FOR A START.
OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL HAVE TO BE A BIT MORE SELECTIVE ABOUT YOUR SEARCH. I IMAGINE THAT YOU WILL HAVE BEEN ENCHANTED IN PAST HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE BY THE LOCATION THAT YOU WERE STAYING IN AND IMAGINED THAT YOU WOULD LIKE A SECOND HOME THERE, OR SEEN A TOWN OR VILLAGE ON THE TELLY THAT LIT YOUR FIRE. UNFORTUNATELY MANY HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS THAT YOU LIKED IN THE PAST ARE NOT REALLY SUITABLE TO LIVE IN DURING THE WINTER, DUE TO MANY OF THE AMENITIES CLOSING DOWN AFTER THE SUMMER SEASON.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST HOUSES THAT I LOOKED AT IN RUFFEC
THIS HOUSE ABOVE WAS ON SALE FOR ABOUT £20,000 BUT IT WAS A BIT SMALL FOR ME AND THE UPPER FLOOR DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED HEADROOM. THE TRICKY OWNER SAID THAT THE TOILET WAS CONNECTED TO THE MAIN SEWER BUT WHEN I WAS ALONE IN THE GARAGE I REMOVED THE OLD SACK THAT WAS COVERING THE CONNECTION POINT FOR THE TOILET DOWN PIPE AND FOUND THAT IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE RAINWATER SYSTEM. ALSO THE ESTATE AGENTS TRIED TO BLUFF ME ABOUT THEIR SALE FEES AND YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THIS BELOW.
IDEALLY THERE SHOULD BE NO SEASONAL CHANGES IN YOUR CHOSEN LOCATION, I ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE TRACTORS DRIVING THROUGH THE TOWN, FOR ME THAT`S A REASSURING SIGHT.
EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR A SECOND HOME, IF BUYING IN THE CENTRE OF A SMALL TOWN OR VILLAGE MANY OF THE PROPERTIES FOR SALE MAY HAVE NO GARAGE OR OFF STREET PARKING!
THEN THERE ARE VILLAGES AND VILLAGES, MOST VILLAGES IN FRANCE SEEM TO BE LOCATED EITHER SIDE OF A ROADWAY AND HAVE NO CENTRE, SO IT COULD BE A LONG WALK TO THE SHOPS THAT NORMALLY SEEM TO BE LOCATED EITHER END OF THE VILLAGE IF THERE ARE ANY.
MANY VILLAGES HAVE NO AMENITIES AS COMPETITION FROM THE SUPERMARKET CHAINS HAVE CAUSED THE SHOPS TO BE UNPROFITABLE AND CLOSE DOWN.
IN MY BOOK A VILLAGE HAS TO HAVE A CENTRE WHERE THERE ARE SHOPS AND HAVE A BI WEEKLY MARKET WHERE ONE CAN BUY FRESH PRODUCE SUCH AS THE ONE IN RUFFEC SHOWN BELOW.
COMMUNICATIONS TO YOUR HOUSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO MAKE IT EASY TO GET TO YOUR CHOSEN DESTINATION. IS THERE A CONVENIENT AIRPORT NEAR TO YOUR HOUSE AND AIRLINES THAT OFFER CHEAP TRAVEL?
IS THERE AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOUSE SUCH AS A TRAIN CONECTION OR BUSES? THERE WILL PROBABLY BE NO TAXIS WAITING AT RURAL TRAIN STATIONS SO THAT HAVING THE HOUSE WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE STATION WOULD BE A DEFINATE PLUS.
IF YOU WISH TO JUST FLY TO YOUR DESTINATION AND SPEND A LONG WEEKEND AT YOUR COTTAGE THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE THAT OFFERS THE CORRECT TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS AND HAVE ALL THE AMENITIES WITHIN SAY FIVE MINUTES WALKING DISTANCE OF YOUR ABODE AND AT A PRICE THAT YOU CAN AFFORD, AGAIN IT`S NOT AS EASY AS ONE WOULD THINK.
HAVING A GARAGE AT YOUR SECOND HOME WILL GIVE YOU THE FLEXIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO KEEP A CAR THERE WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE MUCH EASIER.
FRANCE IS NO LONGER THE CHEAP COUNTRY THAT IT USED TO BE, ALTHOUGH HOUSING IN THE PROVINCES IS CHEAPER THAN IN THE UK THE COST OF EATING AND DRINKING IS ON A PAR!
IN MY OPINION, FRENCH PROVINCIAL RESTAURANTS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY USED TO BE AND JUST LIKE THE UK, ONE HAS TO KNOW WHERE TO EAT IF DISAPPOINTMENT IS TO BE AVOIDED!
IDEALLY THERE SHOULD BE NO SEASONAL CHANGES IN YOUR CHOSEN LOCATION, I ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE TRACTORS DRIVING THROUGH THE TOWN, FOR ME THAT`S A REASSURING SIGHT.
EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR A SECOND HOME, IF BUYING IN THE CENTRE OF A SMALL TOWN OR VILLAGE MANY OF THE PROPERTIES FOR SALE MAY HAVE NO GARAGE OR OFF STREET PARKING!
THEN THERE ARE VILLAGES AND VILLAGES, MOST VILLAGES IN FRANCE SEEM TO BE LOCATED EITHER SIDE OF A ROADWAY AND HAVE NO CENTRE, SO IT COULD BE A LONG WALK TO THE SHOPS THAT NORMALLY SEEM TO BE LOCATED EITHER END OF THE VILLAGE IF THERE ARE ANY.
MANY VILLAGES HAVE NO AMENITIES AS COMPETITION FROM THE SUPERMARKET CHAINS HAVE CAUSED THE SHOPS TO BE UNPROFITABLE AND CLOSE DOWN.
IN MY BOOK A VILLAGE HAS TO HAVE A CENTRE WHERE THERE ARE SHOPS AND HAVE A BI WEEKLY MARKET WHERE ONE CAN BUY FRESH PRODUCE SUCH AS THE ONE IN RUFFEC SHOWN BELOW.
COMMUNICATIONS TO YOUR HOUSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO MAKE IT EASY TO GET TO YOUR CHOSEN DESTINATION. IS THERE A CONVENIENT AIRPORT NEAR TO YOUR HOUSE AND AIRLINES THAT OFFER CHEAP TRAVEL?
IS THERE AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOUSE SUCH AS A TRAIN CONECTION OR BUSES? THERE WILL PROBABLY BE NO TAXIS WAITING AT RURAL TRAIN STATIONS SO THAT HAVING THE HOUSE WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE STATION WOULD BE A DEFINATE PLUS.
IF YOU WISH TO JUST FLY TO YOUR DESTINATION AND SPEND A LONG WEEKEND AT YOUR COTTAGE THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE THAT OFFERS THE CORRECT TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS AND HAVE ALL THE AMENITIES WITHIN SAY FIVE MINUTES WALKING DISTANCE OF YOUR ABODE AND AT A PRICE THAT YOU CAN AFFORD, AGAIN IT`S NOT AS EASY AS ONE WOULD THINK.
HAVING A GARAGE AT YOUR SECOND HOME WILL GIVE YOU THE FLEXIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO KEEP A CAR THERE WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE MUCH EASIER.
FRANCE IS NO LONGER THE CHEAP COUNTRY THAT IT USED TO BE, ALTHOUGH HOUSING IN THE PROVINCES IS CHEAPER THAN IN THE UK THE COST OF EATING AND DRINKING IS ON A PAR!
IN MY OPINION, FRENCH PROVINCIAL RESTAURANTS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY USED TO BE AND JUST LIKE THE UK, ONE HAS TO KNOW WHERE TO EAT IF DISAPPOINTMENT IS TO BE AVOIDED!
ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT IS SECURITY! THE COTE DÀZURE IS A MAGNET FOR CRIMINALS AS THERE ARE MANY HIGH VALUE SECOND HOMES THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO THEIR UNWELCOME ATTENTIONS AS THE OWNERS ARE AWAY FOR MANY MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THESE SHADY GENTLEMEN THINK NOTHING OF PERMANENTLY BORROWING ALL YOUR WORLDLY GOODS.
IN A VILLAGE OR SMALL TOWN, YOUR NEIGHBOURS WILL BE A VALUABLE SAFEGUARD AGAINST THESE CRIMINALS, SO DON`T FORGET TO KEEP ON GOOD TERMS WITH THEM AND PRESENTING THEM WITH AN OCCASIONAL BOTTLE OF WHISKY WILL DEFINATELY CEMENT YOUR RELATIONSHIP.
PERSONALLY I DON`T INSURE THE HOUSE CONTENTS AND MINIMISE ON FURNITURE, BUYING FURNITURE FOR THE HOUSE IS FUN AND THE PRICES CAN BE VERY REASONABLE AND SUIT THE DOWN AT HEEL IMAGE OF THE PROPERTY WHICH CAN BE A GOOD REASON THAT THE THIEVES WILL CHOOSE ANOTHER POSHER LOOKING HOUSE TO ROB.
A GOOD TIP IS TO HAVE ALL YOUR CUPBOARDS BUILT INTO THE STRUCTURE AND USE THE TRADITIONAL CUPBOARD FACIAS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN JUNK SHOPS OR BUY A CHEAP DAMAGED WARDROBE WITH NICE DOORS AND USE THE DOORS AND FRAME AS THE FRONT OF THE BUILT IN CUPBOARD. YOU CAN THEN USE THE REST OF THE WARDROBE FOR BUILDING A BOOKSHELF OR IT ALSO MAKES GOOD FIREWOOD.
IN A VILLAGE OR SMALL TOWN, YOUR NEIGHBOURS WILL BE A VALUABLE SAFEGUARD AGAINST THESE CRIMINALS, SO DON`T FORGET TO KEEP ON GOOD TERMS WITH THEM AND PRESENTING THEM WITH AN OCCASIONAL BOTTLE OF WHISKY WILL DEFINATELY CEMENT YOUR RELATIONSHIP.
PERSONALLY I DON`T INSURE THE HOUSE CONTENTS AND MINIMISE ON FURNITURE, BUYING FURNITURE FOR THE HOUSE IS FUN AND THE PRICES CAN BE VERY REASONABLE AND SUIT THE DOWN AT HEEL IMAGE OF THE PROPERTY WHICH CAN BE A GOOD REASON THAT THE THIEVES WILL CHOOSE ANOTHER POSHER LOOKING HOUSE TO ROB.
A GOOD TIP IS TO HAVE ALL YOUR CUPBOARDS BUILT INTO THE STRUCTURE AND USE THE TRADITIONAL CUPBOARD FACIAS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN JUNK SHOPS OR BUY A CHEAP DAMAGED WARDROBE WITH NICE DOORS AND USE THE DOORS AND FRAME AS THE FRONT OF THE BUILT IN CUPBOARD. YOU CAN THEN USE THE REST OF THE WARDROBE FOR BUILDING A BOOKSHELF OR IT ALSO MAKES GOOD FIREWOOD.
RUFFEC MARKET OPEN TUESDAY AND SATURDAY ON A QUIET OCTOBER DAY 2002
FRENCH ESTATE AGENTS OR IMMOBILIER.
THE INTERNET CAN OFFER A HUGE VARIETY OF HOUSING IN YOUR CHOSEN LOCATION, JUST GOOGLE SAY "IMMOBILIER RUFFEC" AND THIS WILL GIVE YOU A LIST OF ESTATE AGENTS IN THE RUFFEC AREA. HOUSES SEEM TO SELL SLOWER IN FRANCE THAN IN THE UK, I THINK THAT THE AVERAGE TIME TO SELL A HOUSE IS AROUND 18 MONTHS. IF YOU ARE BUYING IN THE PROVINCES THEN PRICES ARE USUALLY VERY NEGOTIABLE. MANY VENDORS HAVE THEIR PROPERTY FOR SALE AT SEVERAL ESTATE AGENTS AT DIFFERENT PRICES, THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE OF THE HOUSE THAT I BOUGHT. HOWEVER I BOUGHT MY HOUSE DIRECTLY FROM THE VENDOR SO ESCAPED THE AGENTS FEES AND GOT IT AT A KNOCK DOWN PRICE.
TO CLARIFY THIS I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU VISIT A PROPERTY VIA AN ESTATE AGENT YOU WILL HAVE TO SIGN A DOCUMENT TO SAY THAT SHOULD YOU BUY THE HOUSE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AGENTS FEES. IN MY CASE I SAW A PRIVATE FOR SALE SIGN ON THE PROPERTY SO IT WAS LEGALLY CORRECT TO CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY THUS THERE WERE NO FEES TO PAY. MORE OF THIS LATER.
CONTINUING MY EARLIER WORDS ABOUT ESTATE AGENT`S FEES AND THE CHICANERY REGARDING THE RED HOUSE ABOVE, IN EVERY ESTATE AGENT`S OFFICE THERE SHOULD BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED A BREAKDOWN OF THEIR FEE STRUCTURE, BASICALLY THEY JUST GET A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE.
I WAS BEING FERRIED AROUND BY THIS PARTICULAR BRITISH FEMALE AGENT AND WAS NOT WARMING TO THE RUINS THAT WERE ON HER BOOKS THAT WERE WITHIN MY BUDGET. THESE HOUSES HAD BEEN OCCUPIED BY THE OLDER GENERATION AND IT WAS APPALLING TO SEE WHAT CONDITIONS THESE FOLK HAD BEEN LIVING IN!
THE AGENT THEN PHONED ANOTHER AGENT IN A DIFFERENT AGENCY AND COLLECTED THE KEYS TO THE RED HOUSE. IT HAD SOME POTENTIAL BUT THE ROOF WOULD HAVE TO BE RAISED HALF A METRE TO MAKE THE TOP FLOOR HABITABLE OVER IT`S WHOLE AREA. I PUT IN A LOW OFFER AND THEY CAME BACK WITH A COUNTER OFFER OF A TOTAL PRICE WHICH INCLUDED FEES AND WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE BREAKDOWN OF THIS OFFER I BEGAN TO SUSPECT THAT THE FEES WERE NOT CORRECT. NORMALLY AGENTS SPLIT FEES WHEN MORE THAN ONE IS INVOLVED BUT WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS THAT THEY HAD BOTH ADDED THEIR WHOLE FEE AND HAD HIDDEN THIS BY JUST GIVING A TOTAL. WHEN I TELEPHONED HER ABOUT THIS SHE BECAME ANGRY AND HUNG UP ON ME, SO JUST BE CAREFUL WHEN NEGOTIATING PRICES THAT THESE AGENTS DON`T PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES.
TO CLARIFY THIS I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU VISIT A PROPERTY VIA AN ESTATE AGENT YOU WILL HAVE TO SIGN A DOCUMENT TO SAY THAT SHOULD YOU BUY THE HOUSE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AGENTS FEES. IN MY CASE I SAW A PRIVATE FOR SALE SIGN ON THE PROPERTY SO IT WAS LEGALLY CORRECT TO CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY THUS THERE WERE NO FEES TO PAY. MORE OF THIS LATER.
CONTINUING MY EARLIER WORDS ABOUT ESTATE AGENT`S FEES AND THE CHICANERY REGARDING THE RED HOUSE ABOVE, IN EVERY ESTATE AGENT`S OFFICE THERE SHOULD BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED A BREAKDOWN OF THEIR FEE STRUCTURE, BASICALLY THEY JUST GET A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE.
I WAS BEING FERRIED AROUND BY THIS PARTICULAR BRITISH FEMALE AGENT AND WAS NOT WARMING TO THE RUINS THAT WERE ON HER BOOKS THAT WERE WITHIN MY BUDGET. THESE HOUSES HAD BEEN OCCUPIED BY THE OLDER GENERATION AND IT WAS APPALLING TO SEE WHAT CONDITIONS THESE FOLK HAD BEEN LIVING IN!
THE AGENT THEN PHONED ANOTHER AGENT IN A DIFFERENT AGENCY AND COLLECTED THE KEYS TO THE RED HOUSE. IT HAD SOME POTENTIAL BUT THE ROOF WOULD HAVE TO BE RAISED HALF A METRE TO MAKE THE TOP FLOOR HABITABLE OVER IT`S WHOLE AREA. I PUT IN A LOW OFFER AND THEY CAME BACK WITH A COUNTER OFFER OF A TOTAL PRICE WHICH INCLUDED FEES AND WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE BREAKDOWN OF THIS OFFER I BEGAN TO SUSPECT THAT THE FEES WERE NOT CORRECT. NORMALLY AGENTS SPLIT FEES WHEN MORE THAN ONE IS INVOLVED BUT WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS THAT THEY HAD BOTH ADDED THEIR WHOLE FEE AND HAD HIDDEN THIS BY JUST GIVING A TOTAL. WHEN I TELEPHONED HER ABOUT THIS SHE BECAME ANGRY AND HUNG UP ON ME, SO JUST BE CAREFUL WHEN NEGOTIATING PRICES THAT THESE AGENTS DON`T PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES.
AFTER MY ENCOUNTERS WITH THESE AGENTS WHO, AFTER ALL, WERE JUST OUT TO MAKE SOME MONEY BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE AT MY EXPENSE, I DECIDED TO DO SOME EXPLORING IN RUFFEC AS I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE LAYOUT OF THE TOWN AND THE AMENITIES THAT WERE ON OFFER. ALL THE NECESSARY SHOPS WERE LOCATED IN A CENTRAL AREA, INCLUDING SEVERAL BANKS AND BOULANGERIES THAT SOLD TASTY BAGUETTES AND DELICIOUS CAKES FOR THE DISTAFF SIDE, CHEMIST SHOPS, SCHOOLS AND A HOSPITAL WERE IN PLACE EVEN A KNITTING SHOP.
THE HOUSE THAT I BOUGHT
I DROVE AROUND THE STREETS LOOKING FOR HOUSES FOR SALE AND IN A VERY QUIET STREET STOPPED AT A HOUSE THAT HAD A PRIVATE "FOR SALE" SIGN IN THE FRONT WINDOW. OPPOSITE THERE WAS A WORKMAN POINTING THE STONEWORK, SHOWN ABOVE LEFT STANDING ON THE LADDER. I SPOKE TO HIM IN FRENCH BUT HE TURNED OUT TO BE ROLAND, THE OWNER, A BRITISH EX PAT WHO HAD JUST SOLD HIS HOUSE.
WE CHATTED FOR A WHILE AND I MENTIONED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THE HOUSE FOR SALE. HE IMMEDIATELY PHONED THE SON OF THE OWNER WHO DROVE OVER FROM HIS HOUSE NEAR COGNAC AND WAS THERE WITHIN THE HOUR.
Mr. MOLLE THE OTHER GENTLEMAN IN THE PHOTO WAS SELLING THE HOUSE ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER WHO WAS IN A NURSING HOME AND IN POOR HEALTH. THE HOUSE NEEDED COMPLETE REFURBISHMENT BUT HAD A FUNCTIONING BATHROOM AND GAS FIRED CENTRAL HEATING. THERE WAS A LARGE GARDEN WITH MANY FRUIT TREES AND Mr MOLLE WAS TEMPORARILY USING IT TO CULTIVATE VEGETABLES. I WAS A BIT WORRIED ABOUT A CRACK IN THE REAR WALL BUT ROLAND, A CIVIL ENGINEER, ASSURED ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION THE CRACK WAS NOT NECESSARILY A PROBLEM. EXPLAINING THAT THE WALLS WERE ACTUALLY A SINGLE WALL BUILT WITH INNER AND OUTER VERTICAL WALLS WITH A GAP BETWEEN WHICH WAS FILLED WITH A WEAK SAND AND LIME FILLING.
SURE ENOUGH WHEN WE INSPECTED THE INNER WALL THERE WAS NO CRACK TO BE SEEN. THERE WAS ALSO A SLIGHT OUTWARD LEAN ON PART OF THE REAR WALL AND AGAIN AN INTERNAL INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO MOVEMENT SINCE THE HOUSE WAS REBUILT IN THE 1960`S.
WE CHATTED FOR A WHILE AND I MENTIONED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THE HOUSE FOR SALE. HE IMMEDIATELY PHONED THE SON OF THE OWNER WHO DROVE OVER FROM HIS HOUSE NEAR COGNAC AND WAS THERE WITHIN THE HOUR.
Mr. MOLLE THE OTHER GENTLEMAN IN THE PHOTO WAS SELLING THE HOUSE ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER WHO WAS IN A NURSING HOME AND IN POOR HEALTH. THE HOUSE NEEDED COMPLETE REFURBISHMENT BUT HAD A FUNCTIONING BATHROOM AND GAS FIRED CENTRAL HEATING. THERE WAS A LARGE GARDEN WITH MANY FRUIT TREES AND Mr MOLLE WAS TEMPORARILY USING IT TO CULTIVATE VEGETABLES. I WAS A BIT WORRIED ABOUT A CRACK IN THE REAR WALL BUT ROLAND, A CIVIL ENGINEER, ASSURED ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION THE CRACK WAS NOT NECESSARILY A PROBLEM. EXPLAINING THAT THE WALLS WERE ACTUALLY A SINGLE WALL BUILT WITH INNER AND OUTER VERTICAL WALLS WITH A GAP BETWEEN WHICH WAS FILLED WITH A WEAK SAND AND LIME FILLING.
SURE ENOUGH WHEN WE INSPECTED THE INNER WALL THERE WAS NO CRACK TO BE SEEN. THERE WAS ALSO A SLIGHT OUTWARD LEAN ON PART OF THE REAR WALL AND AGAIN AN INTERNAL INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO MOVEMENT SINCE THE HOUSE WAS REBUILT IN THE 1960`S.
IN PROGRESS