Rolling up your sleeves 3: Major stuff

Even if your new French home is habitable – a concept that covers a multitude of sins – it’s likely that when funds allow, there will be changes you’d like to make to it. As the world over, there’s a huge choice of builders here – excellent, good, indifferent and downright awful. Having had experience of using French, Dutch and English artisans, the golden rule is recommendation not nationality. Don’t be put off using someone who doesn’t share your first language – if they are any good, they’ll be hugely helpful, prompt, competent and tidy. Equally, don’t assume that just because they’re local the foregoing is a given.

Before you do anything, check that you have the relevant permission. Even if you are simply replacing like with like and it’s exterior work, you’ll need to file a declaration with the local Mairie. If you live out in the sticks it’s tempting not to bother, but the paperwork isn’t difficult – there’s just quite a lot of it. Anyway, console yourself that you are providing gainful employment for the poor sod who has to wade through it all. 

Always get a devis (quote) – this will form the basis of your contract and if it isn’t forthcoming, get someone else to do the work.

Also, be prepared to pay a proportion of the cost up front – this is less common in the UK, but a request for a reasonable percentage in advance shouldn’t (necessarily) ring alarm bells. A lot of French builders specialise and this can mean that you have to dovetail the different trades yourself – this can save you money but can also drive you mad. If it’s a big job, employ a bi lingual site manager – there’s a cost involved, but what price sanity. And unless you have the patience of a saint, don’t try to get anything done in May or August – everyone is on holiday, so you might as well do the same.