By Del and Mat, Maison D&M Dordogne
Falling for a French home is the easy part. Del and Mat from Maison D&M Dordogne share how to find a place that truly feels like home, from the neighbourhood and your new community to the practicalities of upkeep. Read the full article for their advice.
For many people dreaming of a new life in France, the search begins with a house and the huge excitement of scrolling endlessly through property listings (no guilt to be had, we’ve all been there!). A beautiful stone farmhouse, a village ‘maison’ with denim-grey shutters and a garden. But finding the right property is about much more than falling in love with the building itself.
It is about finding the right life around it.
When working with people looking to make the move to France, one of the things to emphasise from the outset is to take your time. If you can, spend as much time as possible in the area you are considering – not just viewing properties, but staying for a few weeks, and sometimes even a few months. Explore the towns and villages, shop locally, drive the roads, visit the markets and talk to local people. Try to imagine yourself living there rather than simply looking at it through the eyes of a buyer.
Because two properties only a few kilometres apart can offer completely different lifestyles.
Is there a village or town nearby where you can have a coffee, do the shopping or meet friends and create a new social life for yourself(ves)? Is there a local community you can become part of? Are there neighbours around, or could you find yourself quite isolated once the initial excitement of moving has passed?
This matters particularly when you are building a new life and leaving behind the networks you have known for years. Connect with local communities: French, British and international. Wanting to integrate into French life doesn’t mean you have to abandon English-speaking connections. Sometimes, after a week of trying to navigate French conversations (and French administration!), it is rather nice to spend a Friday evening with people who understand exactly what you are going through and can give both advice and support!
Local expat communities can be an invaluable source of practical knowledge, from navigating the Mairie and French administration to finding trusted local tradespeople, and simply having someone to ask, “Is this usual here?”
And then there are the practical realities of the property itself. A large garden or several hectares of land can look wonderfully romantic when you’re viewing a property in the sunshine. But who will maintain it? How much will it cost? How much of your time will it take? A hectare of land is very different from a manageable garden when you’re accustomed to a very different type of property maintenance in the UK.
It is equally important to understand the quirks of rural life before you buy. Do your research, talk to locals and find out what life is really like throughout the year. We know of someone searching for a home to be rather horrified to discover the arrival of field crickets around the house at this time of the year. While mildly disturbing, they are completely harmless (and we’d argue actually rather cute) but they are also irresistibly attracted to the smallest source of light and will happily invite themselves inside to celebrate your new home!
Then there are the seasonal sounds and traditions: agricultural activity, hunting, village fêtes, church bells and all the other things that form part of life in rural France. None of these are necessarily drawbacks. But they are part of the environment you are buying into, and it is far better to understand them before making such a significant decision.
Ultimately, buying a property in France is not only about finding a house you love. It is about creating a project for a new life: one that needs to work practically as well as emotionally.
Take the time to explore. Stay locally. Visit at different times of day and, where possible, different times of year. Talk to people. Picture your ordinary Tuesday, as well as your perfect French summer.
Because the right French property won’t necessarily be the one with the biggest garden, a pretty façade or the most spectacular view. It is the one that allows you to build the everyday life you came to France to live.
For more about planning a move to France read here
