Expert ideas for creating an excellent second residence in France | EUROtoday

When it comes to purchasing a second residence in France, it is important to contemplate not simply the placement, but additionally the quantity of labor, in addition to the associated fee, of upkeep. It could make it onerous to seek out the proper property, and increasingly more patrons are contemplating a special choice – these professional ideas for creating an excellent second residence in France will make sure you spend extra time having fun with your self and fewer time working to take care of your property.

Your dream home in France

House hunters shortly be taught that they’re going to have to compromise on their want listing, whether or not it is location, the variety of bedrooms or the quantity of labor required. But as an alternative of ‘we might make this work’, why not make it precisely proper?

“France is a fantastic place for a second home,” says Tom Easdown, a French-registered architect and MD of French Plans, based in 2002. “There’s all the pieces from snowy mountains to the Mediterranean, metropolitan cities to swathes of countryside the place you may’t see a single neighbor. You’re nearly assured to discover a location that fits you, however that does not imply you may discover your ultimate property.

“Most buyers find a property that ticks some of the boxes and accept that they’ll have to compromise on the rest. As an architect, designing your own home seems perfectly logical to me, but many people don’t even consider it.”

One of the explanations patrons do not contemplate designing their very own house is that they think about it is past their price range, however Tom explains that the alternative will be true.

Expert ideas for creating an excellent second residence in France

“Essentially, your want listing turns into a specification listing. By designing your personal residence, each penny of your price range goes into optimistic actions. You’re not spending cash reshaping or adapting an present property, making an attempt to make it what you need. You’re additionally avoiding potential bills akin to discovering rotten timbers underneath the plasterboard, defective electrics or sanitation that does not meet necessities.

“We can help with the entire process. From the first steps of finding the right area and plot to commissioning reliable tradesmen and the finishing touches of cost-efficient lighting, an architect-designed home can focus on getting you the best value for money. And when you’re working with a bilingual team from the beginning, there’s no stress with the paperwork, because, hopefully, there are no surprises” says Tom.

“Generally, patrons underestimate how a lot upkeep is required on a property even when no one resides there. Just take into consideration all these minor jobs you do with out actually interested by it: sweeping leaves, fixing gates or shutters, touching up paintwork and clearing gutters or drains.

“There are set rules to consider with a second home, for instance – avoid flat roofs, as these require regular, ongoing maintenance: they might be cheaper to build but, particularly with a holiday home, it’s a false economy. Windows, the façade, guttering, wastewater and more need to be considered. For instance in many rural areas, you may not have access to a main sewer system, and a private drainage system will need to be installed and maintained. We’ll find a way to make things work for you.”

Heating your French residence

More than 65% of our vitality payments (ADEME) goes on heating alone. This implies that your alternative of heating and the standard of insulation are important to managing prices. It’s particularly vital with a second residence that can’t depend on residual warmth.

“Thermal performance and insulation are key elements of any new design,” agrees Tom. “Most with second properties simply wish to flip up and luxuriate in being right here as quickly as they arrive, not spend the perfect a part of every week getting the home as much as temperature. Ideally, you may set up a heating system that reacts immediately for those who’re turning up out of the blue, or a wise system you can activate remotely.

“We additionally information purchasers by the suitable insulation, which is a crucial choice on second properties. Choose properly, and even when your own home has been empty for a number of weeks it won’t be as chilly, so it should warmth up extra shortly – which saves you cash.

“In many parts of France, the climate means that you’ll need to think about how you keep your house cool. Again, getting the initial design right, siting the house to face the best direction, understanding insulation and choosing the best glazing for your windows can all make a big difference.”

Size is not all the pieces

How a lot house do you assume you want? Tom and the workforce, have labored with tons of of British and American purchasers through the years, and say that this is likely one of the hardest features to be lifelike about when designing your personal residence.

“The quickest route to low maintenance is only to build what you need,” says Tom. “Many of us wish to maximize our residing house however for those who do not want two spare bedrooms, why construct them?

“It applies to the outside, too. Many of our British clients are thrilled to find a plot that will give them a huge garden, because land comes at such a premium in the UK. However, all those acres have to be maintained and if you’re not living there, the land quickly becomes overgrown and unmanageable. Do you really want to spend the first week of every visit clearing the weeds and strimming grass? Wouldn’t you rather be unpacked and enjoying the sunshine?”

Future-proof your second residence in France

“Future-proofing your home is about anticipating future needs so you can build a home that will work for you long term. This might include designing a home you can continue to live there beyond the point where you can no longer go upstairs. We’ve had a few of these requests recently, either for new properties or for adapting ground floors and creating walk-in wet rooms.”

When you design a low-maintenance second residence in France – it is a distinctive alternative to create one thing that is good for you.

To discover out extra about designing your personal low-maintenance property in France, go to French Plansthe place you may additionally discover free guides and useful info.