I wonder if the plan is for many older houses to just be torn down and replaced with new builds? That house looks in much better condition that our Cussy home did.
My OH always carried some marbles in his pocket when he went to give work Devis and we did the same here. If the marble rolls from being placed on the floor by itself, you know it’s not level and could present further problems especially if a pipe bursts. There looks also to be a fair bit of yearly maintenance involved to keep it looking smart, then you have the same problem if you want to offload later on, folks are downsizing everywhere now from big old money pits especially as they get older and the kids have flown.
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Welcome to France, and SF, Steve!
Some good input so far from posters - but I think you need to stand back a bit, and work out more clearly what you think you want here. You say you will ‘rent out’ the house when you are not here; then show us a property with a fab house and a separate old Coach House which could rent separately - is that what you intend?
According to the hand-painted stained-glass window the house was built in 1905. This is a proper job! Well built. What is known as the ‘Belle Epoque’ in France. You could move straight in. You could spend loads-a-money on it if you wished - but to my mind it looks like it just needs ‘cosmetic’ work so that everything suits you - even the paintwork is in good order. So that’s a matter of choice.
The old Coach House is another matter altogether. It has obviously been converted into a self-contained annexe at some point, but has not been used for some time, and is in poor state. The cost of bringing this up to rental standard will never be recovered by the rent you would achieve. Even if it was, would you want renters that close to your own home?
You also need to be clear what you mean by ‘renting’. Are you thinking of a long-term lease; or holiday rentals? The first is to be avoided like a US missile! The second is more fruitful financially, but requires substantial administration, advertising, and input costs - as well as your time.
I have bought (and also sold) three properties here over the years (in the south-west). My basic advice would be that you use the internet only for window shopping. You simply must, first of all, decide on the geographic area(s) that appeal to you. Then rent a holiday rental in that location, and get to know it - and the immobiliers. Then visit possible places that are for sale - you will then become an expert in your own segment of the market, and get to understand local property prices, and what you get for your money.
Happy hunting!
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Go for it! …on condition that you visit the property and spend a couple of days exploring the immediate surroundings.
The DPE results are fairly meaningless without access to real heating and electricity costs. They reflect the lack of double-glazing and roof insulation I would imagine; not difficult things to fix.
As an estate agent with 15 years experience behind me I would: visit the property, explore the area and then make an offer of around €175k - €180k. If the offer is refused or someone else buys the place it’s not a disaster: there are plenty of other places to buy in rural France.
Thanks again everyone.
Some more information from the agent but not backed up by actual bills.
Here is a breakdown of the annual bills:
Property tax and garbage collection: €2,685
Gas heating (without using the wood-burning stove): €4,100
Electricity: €900
Water and sewage: €600
Phone and internet subscription: €50/month
Total costs are Euro 8885 p./a.
Or Euro 740 per month
To us it’s only worth 170-180k euros and the agent said 220k Euro is the price taking into account all renovations required. Hmmmm. Our comparisons show a different opinion.
From the report all windows are already double glazed but the house is in need of insulation and very likely new boiler and re wiring if the report is correct. The report said the boiler is 25 years old and no record of its last service and the wording said refused to turn on Hey ho.
We are going to see it next Saturday for a flying visit to get a basic feel for the house and the town. If we love it we’ll go back again for a much closer inspection.
Maybe sales pitch but the agent said someone returned for a second visit and offered full asking but was declined as they didn’t have immediate funds.
As above if it goes I’ll be sad but won’t be crying. It’s a beautiful place and could be magical but could also be a money pit and I’m not Tom Hanks.
thanks again for all your advice and interest in this.
Right now it’s very common in France that sales fall through because buyers can’t get a loan. We lost our favorite buyers that way. My impression is that a lot of sales never make it.
So quite possibly true that seller wasn’t prepared to hang on for what may be a very long time if for example the buyers were trying to sell their house.
But €4000 pa for heating 191m2 in an urban area! The people who lived there must have been nudists.
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When the Renov-France inspector came to see The Plywood Shack I did suggest that demolishing the place and building new would be better value. She agreed.
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Just on case you haven’t found it on Google streetview, here’s the link - Google Maps
It has a very pleasant setting, in a nice town - and the main house is obvs in very good order. A couple of further comments: other people’s running costs (for heating, electricity, water, internet & phone) are not necessarily what it would cost you. As others have said, the Report is required by law; is not a survey (they don’t exist in France); do not mention good points; and should not be taken too literally. Nor should anything most estate agents might tell you ! Talk of a non-proceeding offer is potentially fabricated . Your valuation feels about right to me - you will know more when you visit, and research asking prices locally.
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That’s concerning.
I’m sure that’s not the case with this place as the main structure looks quite good.
Thanks for this. I did find it on Maps a while back, and it looks to be in a super part of town.
Noted re running costs and also re not taking what the agent says as gospel.
I’ve got a bunch of questions to ask on Saturday. Ideally I’d have a trusted builder with me to tell me honestly what’s needed and how much to remediate the basic issues, and another price to get to the standard to where we want it over the longer term.
Also need to research more on listed status…and how that might compare to the UK. I know some of the windows are dated 1905 and actually incredibly valuable in their own right. And that the building is 1920 I think (bit odd with windows that are older).
Anyone know an English speaking French builder within 50 miles of Vitry, free on Saturday afternoon?
lol - just a couple of requirements that I can’t see being fulfilled for Saturday 
Back-along, when I became familiar with the state of things, a wise-cracking SFista said, “Shoddy modern [1958] French building! Where’s your sense of adventure, man!?”
All the light switches were installed upside down. I’ve just renovated the loo in the summerhouse. The live wire bypasses the switch and runs into the light fitting and back down to the switch. The neutral is what switches the light on and off. So the fitting is permanently live … 
I expect they’re all like that. I’m about to install twin spotlights in place of down-lighters. I doubt turning them off at the switch will mean that the juice is cut off. 
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Ours are art nouveau 1910 (in a 1750’s house) within 500m of a historic monument (William the Conqueror’s Chapel) and neighbouring houses have been allowed to install bright white PVC. All comes down to how well you get on with the bâtiment de France person. But is that house even listed?
Interesting to hear that.
Will look into whether it’s listed. Is there an online resource to check?
Otherwise I’ll have to ask for written confirmation from the agent as the first port of call.
As so often.. my advice is to visit/contact the Mairie and ask them about the property one is thinking of buying.. discuss Plans for future works etc etc. Find out as much as possible about restrictions/timescales etc etc.
best of luck
Thanks Stella. I’ll see about contacting the Mairie but no idea if they do it via email as I’m only going to be there on Saturday in person.
Regards, Steven
Here you are - the online search facility. But surely the Agent knows? If there was any heritage implication the owners should have passed this on. We were clearly told that we were within a protected zone so although our building has no specific protection we can’t alter the exterior without permission.
You need to ask directly a) whether the house itself has any protections and b) is it within 500m of a historic monument
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Stella, Vitry is a town of 10,000 people so a different sort of Marie. Our new town has 8,000 and so one can’t just stroll in and ask the secretary, you have to book a visit with the relevant section and fill in a formal request.
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Yes, it’s true that the bigger the place the more complicated it can be to get information.
Some years ago I was helping friends near a very large town and had to “visit that Mairie” on their behalf 
… good grief, talk about complicated. Thankfully I had time on my side and everyone was very patient and helpful.
The important point (in my opinion) is that folk should make enquiries at the appropriate Mairie/Office/Whatever re Building Regs/Restrictions etc etc… before buying.
I’ve known instances where the Agent has assured the client that “all will be well” only for the client to later discover that all was not so…
That’s a very important point, Stella. Many incoming Brits assume that the notaire will carry out ‘searches’, â la British conveyancing process - but, in effect, this will not happen unless you (the buyer) ask them specific questions. As you say, with a quick visit to the mairie (a good chance to make yourself known, even if you need to take a translator with you) you can ask the secretary to show you the planning records for, and around, your intended purchase. Even if an application was declined it will be recorded on a map with it’s reference number.
