Rental-France Newsletter Number 2, August 9 1999
The idea of
this newsletter is to give information about visiting France. We
live in the South of France so most of the news will be from here,
but we have friends all over the country and can usually help in
other regions. My problem seems to be not finding things to put in,
but to keep the letter short
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Millennium Rentals
I read a lot about the Y2K problem and computers crashing, also
I read how Champagne will not be available and special
accommodation for the 'party' of the century will be impossible
to find and an outrageous price.
Neither is true, I don't know about computers, but there is
plenty of Champagne in the Supermarkets and we still have some
super properties available for the millennium.
There are two properties on our pages which would be wonderful
for the celebrations
http://www.rentals-france.com/accommodation/paraisette/
and
http://www.rentals-france.com/accommodation/monterel/
We also have a few smaller properties left to rent, do ask us.
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ADVERTISMENT
http://www.holi-swaps.com/
Home exchange is an excellent way for the traveler to find good
accommodation. By 'swapping' your home not only can you save
money, but you know you are dealing with like minded folk who
will offer good value and comfort, just as you offer the same to
them. An excellent way to find property for exchange is to use
the services of
http://www.holi-swaps.com/
a well established company who really care about the service
they offer.
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Buying Village Houses.
French village houses in the South of France have evolved over
centuries, it is only in the latter part of this century that
building techniques have changed the style and construction, and
the new building is usually grouped together outside the village.
In our village of Nizas, and all the surrounding villages here a
craftsman of the 10th century would find that nothing had
changed and he could have walked into a job on a building site
anywhere in this region up until the beginning of this century,
it is possible that even the local dialect would seem familiar.
Now, with the application of standard construction materials,
pre-cast concrete and sophisticated machinery, France is at the
leading edge of the application of efficient cost effective
building to a high standard and at a fair price.
However, this means for the hand crafted stone and tile
properties of yesteryear it is increasingly difficult to find a
tradesman to do the skilled and heavy work. Fo the few skilled
masons, there are plenty of customers and the masons can charge
(and usually do charge) what they like.
Many visitors who stay with us and who fall in love with this
very special region think about buying a home here. Some people
for vacations, some for retirement and others for a sound
investment. True, the prices seem low (they are beginning to
rise rapidly) for a genuine medieval or 17th century house with
original fireplaces, beams and carved stone windows. But, be
very careful. The cost of restoration or repair is several times
more expensive than building new. For example, a modest modern
villa of 1000 square feet would cost, excluding land, would cost
$80 per square foot to build to a very high standard, fully
tiled, portico etc and this would include gardens and a small
pool. To renovate a similar village property you are starting to
look at $300 per square foot and these properties do not have
gardens, let alone a pool area. This is for a property in poor
repair, there are some fine old buildings still for sale which
do not need such a high level of expensive work, but it takes a
skilled eye to see under the plaster and through the walls and
it may not be in the interests of the local mason to tell you
everything they know.
If you are coming for a vacation then problems with old
buildings should be the furthest thing from you mind. A walk or
bike ride up on the thyme scented plateau and a drink in the
village bar at the end of the day should be much more important.
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WebCams
One of my future plans, along with several thousand other
brilliant ideas, it to put a Web cam on the roof of our house
looking out over the vineyards. It will not be very exciting and
with French telephone charges (see last weeks newsletter) would
be expensive, but I would like to share the sight of vines
growing with you and the beauty and tranquillity of the French
countryside, the light and the magic in the air.
Through the year the colors change in a complex and vibrant way,
the chaot
