When you have a home in France but you’re not always on site, it’s a relief to have reliable neighbours who will watch over your property and keep you informed. It’s even better if those neighbours are professionals that you can trust to manage all the aspects of your home when you can’t be there in person and that’s where Les Bons Voisins, the best property management service in France, can help.

Les Bons Voisins

Named after the French for ‘good neighbours’, Les Bons Voisins started in 2002 as a property-management business for people with second homes in France. Responding to demand, this gradually grew into a network of 18 teams covering most of the western and central regions of the country. In 2019, the company was taken over by Carmel O’Connell and husband Joe Wilson, who had experienced first-hand the challenges of owning a home in another country.

“We’d bought a property in France in 2007,” explains Carmel, “but we were living and working in Asia, so we could only visit two or three times a year. We needed to find reliable people to help maintain the garden and the house while we weren’t there, but the whole process was incredibly frustrating. With the language barriers, long-distance communication and potential risks of entrusting your home to someone else, it was more complicated than we’d anticipated. That was how we first heard about Les Bons Voisins and became part of the management team when we decided to move to France permanently, and eventually took over the network.”

The head office is now in their hometown of Lectoure, about 100 km northwest of Toulouse, and as well as managing teams across the country, Carmel and Joe are also property managers for their own region, keeping hands-on experience.

Neighbourly yet professional

What might a good neighbour take care of for you? LBV covers all of this and several extra options, depending on each person’s location and needs:

Holiday homes support

LBV offer a full support service for owners who rent out their property as a holiday home or gîte. They can carry out key-holding and guest-greeting services, cleaning and preparing the house for guests and providing regular garden maintenance so that guests arrive to find a welcoming home and, if required, a friendly face to hand over the keys. Property managers will either handle each aspect personally, or they will source reliable, local professionals such as chimney sweeps, pest control, and sanitation specialists, acting as the single point of contact.

Maintenance help for property owners in France

Even if you don’t rent out your property, LBV offer regular garden maintenance and cleaning or can organise for your home to be ready when you arrive for your own holiday, from a full spring clean and beds made up, to providing firewood and gas bottles ready for a winter break, or even leaving some milk, butter and grocery basics in the kitchen.

Practical chores

Some aspects that homeowners don’t necessarily plan for when buying a dream home in France are practical chores such as regular pool maintenance or sweeping the chimney, which can be a legal requirement for your home insurance. Being on-site makes it a lot easier to organise visits from tradespeople, and your local property manager can be there to let them in and ensure the work is done to the required standard.

The unexpected

One of the major concerns for absent owners is when an unexpected event occurs and they have no idea if their property has been damaged. Consider the forest fires that took place in western France earlier in 2024 and back in 2022 when over 150,000 acres of land were burned: many homeowners had no idea if their property was in the affected area or what to expect when they returned – but having a local contact on hand to visit in person makes all the difference.

This was also the case during the floods in the Aude region, for example, when LBV managers were able to help homeowners to deal with the practical aspects of an unforeseen flood as well as the paperwork of insurance claims.

“There’s no doubt about it,” agrees Carmel, “it gives you a lot of peace of mind knowing someone is there on the ground, able to tell you what’s happening, what to expect and tell you the real picture. Even knowing who to contact and where to start in these situations is a weight off your mind and helps you breathe more easily. That’s what we’re here for.”

How does it work?

As a homeowner, you agree with your property manager exactly what’s required, and you get an invoice at the end of each month. Costs are in line with professional rates in your area, and local tradespeople are used wherever possible. As a guideline, cleaning and changeovers cost around €25 an hour, gardening is around €30 per hour and maintenance is from €35 per hour plus materials.
LBV can also offer translation or administrative services, priced depending on the project and you can sign off on the quote before any work takes place.

With LBV’s help, there’s no time wasted trying to source the right people from a distance, you don’t need to navigate the French language, and you always have visibility on what you’ll be paying for before you receive any invoice.

Thanks to their reliability, professionalism and positivity, it’s no surprise that many homeowners have developed ongoing friendships with their ‘Bons Voisins’ property managers. In the words of the Australian TV soap theme tune: that really is when good neighbours become good friends!

Find out more about Les Bons Voisins services: propertymanagementinfrance.com

The post The best property management service in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Do you dream of moving to France, buying a house and having a cottage or property nearby that would be an ideal gîte? You could list it on one of the many rental sites available, sit back and wait for the bookings to come pouring in… Except – there’s a bit more to it than that, especially when it comes to keeping on the right side of the regulations that apply in France. We asked Tracy Leonetti of LBS in France to share her top tips to running a gîte in France – and staying legal.

Tip 1: Register your gîte with your local Mairie

The Maire has the right to refuse your gîte if the level of the tourism in the area can’t support another one, so it’s a great idea to check before you invest in a project that is not going to get off the ground.  This is particularly important if you are relying on the income from your gîte to provide a significant percentage of your annual revenue.

Assuming the Mairie says yes, there’s also a declaration to be filled in. This has nothing to do with tax and is just an administrative document that asks for details of your gîte, including how many it can accommodate, what periods of the year it will be available and your contact details. It will also ask whether the gîte has been officially classified. (This is not obligatory but can have tax advantages if you set up as a business.)

Once you have the go-ahead from your Mairie, you’ll need to determine your tax responsibilities and officially register your gîte.  There are two types of registration, professional and non-professional. The most important thing to know is that any rental income that your gîte generates is taxable here in France, whether or not you are a permanent resident.

Tip 2: Understand the difference between a professional or non-professional gîte owner

If the gîte is not your primary income source (maybe you work elsewhere, or have your own separate business) it counts as non-professional. To qualify for non-professional, annual gîte income must be less than 23,000 euros. You register as a ‘Loueur Meublé Non Professionnel’ and will need to provide a copy of your passport as well as proof of ownership such as the deeds to the property (called the ‘titre de propriété’) which the Notaire who handled the purchase of the property should give to you. No proof of French residency is required for non-professional registration. You must declare the annual revenue on your French income tax return via the impots.gouv.fr website.

However, if running the gîte is a full-time business for you, it is classified as your professional and principal activity. Normally this would imply an income of more than 26,000 euros. You will need to hold either a titre de séjour (residency permit), or business visa to be eligible to register with the Chambre de Commerce et de l’Industrie.

Tip 3: Find out about the taxes that apply to running a gîte

According to government regulations, your activity must be officially registered within two weeks of opening.

The simplest business option is to become a micro-entrepreneur or start an ‘entreprise individuelle au réel simplifié‘. Though these may be the easiest and cheapest ways to set up your gîte business, neither of those options entitle you to any tax relief on the money you have outlaid, such as building work, decoration, furnishings and advertising.

You will pay 22% social security charges to the French government on all rental income. You’ll also have other outgoings, for instance up to 20% service fee if you list your gîte with popular rental agencies. If you think your gîte is likely to become successful, it is worth looking into setting up the French equivalent of a limited company. This enables you to claim tax benefits on setting up, plus ongoing running costs.

If you start off by registering your gîte as a ‘meublé non professionnel’ and then find that business is booming and it’s bringing in more than 23,000 euros a year, you can easily change your status to ‘loueur meublé professionel’’ – get an accountant to assist you with this.

Tip 4: Make sure you apply for the right visa

The best way to do this is to consider the timeline ahead of you.  Many people go through the pain and hassle of applying for a costly work visa and making a business plan, when in fact most people don’t actually have their gîte business up and running during the first year. Renovation takes time, moving in and sorting out your home and life in France also take time.  A better option might be to apply for a simple one-year (long stay) visa instead.  At the end of that year, you can apply for residency (titre de séjour) which automatically allows you to work – and you can do it all from within France.

Tip 5: Get the right help

LBS in France can help with every aspect of setting up your gîte, from applying for the right visa to choosing the right business structure and finding out if you are entitled to any government subsidy to help with renovations.

For expert advice, you can find out more or book a consultation at lbsinfrance.com

The post The expert guide to registering a gîte in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Do you dream of running your own holiday business in France? Maybe running a gite, or a chambre d’hotes (B&B) in the sun are what you long for. We share some top tips for starting a gite business in France…

Find the right property

You need to research the area you are thinking of living in really well to make sure it’s appropriate for the business you want to run. Is an airport or train station within easy reach for clients who don’t arrive by car.

If you’re in a sunny area, is there a swimming pool, or can you get planning permission for a pool?

Is there parking space for clients with a car. Can guests walk to a boulangerie, or is one close enough for you to provide them with breakfast if need be.

Write down the pros and cons of the location to help you decide if it’s the one!

What’s your Unique Selling Propoposition?

There are masses of beautiful gites, villas and holiday cottages in France – the competition is fierce. So think about your USP, what makes your accommodation more special than the competition, what makes you stand out from the crowd.

It’s good to have a niche. Maybe there’s something you really enjoy doing that can help your business – a unique selling point. Is the area is perfect for bird watchers, cyclists, hikers wine lovers etc. Think of your property as a product, not the place you fell in love with. Really put yourself in your clients’ shoes when you’re considering what are the must-haves and the nice-to-haves. And consider what would make guests choose you over another gite or B&B. Target your market appropriately, if your area is great for cyclists, then offer space for guests to keep their bikes safe, find out where to hire bikes from and negotiate a discount for your guests, know where the repair shop is, great cycle routes etc. If your in a wine growing area,  know which are the best vineyards, get a discount for tasting visits for your guests.

Do your research, check out the competition, book in as a guest in their accommodation, be a guest at your own place. Compare and learn what works, what doesn’t.

It’s hard work

That bargain property you are thinking of may need work. Think about how long it might take to complete – and the fact that you may not have an income while that’s going on.

Look for the potential in whatever you buy. Is there room for additional accommodation, a yurt, or treehouse or extension. Make sure you can get planning permission before you start the work, France loves its admin and getting the paperwork right up front saves a lot of heart ache later. If a pool is a deal breaker, ask the notaire to include a clause in the purchase documents to include that the purchase depends on the granting of planning permission and sort that out before you sign on the dotted line. Use a reputable company like FrenchPlans.com – the English speaking architects in France.

And when you open, you have to be organised, like people, be practical and creative. And you must keep the accommodation, pool, and gardens in tip top condition – all the time.

Get starry-eyed

You need to register your gite, B&B. with the townhall or town council. Keep your cool, there are enough forms issued by different government departments to sink a battleship. And to apply for stars – inspections must be arranged with the tourist office to achieve the valued 4 stars from the Tourist Office. (find more details here: essential guide to running gites in France)

Top tip: Make sure you have a good filing cabinet. Keep every bill, document and letter forever. You never know when you may need them for French admin purposes.

There’s lots to consider when moving to France and setting up a gite or B&B business – come and meet experts in all aspects of moving to France – estate agents, finance, visas and more, at The French Property Show: October 19-20/2024

Find details and get your free ticket here: thefrenchpropertyshow

Janine Marsh is the author of  several internationally best-selling books about France. Her latest book How to be French – a celebration of the French lifestyle and art de vivre, is out now – a look at the French way of life. Find all books on her website janinemarsh.com.

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We talk to British expat Tony Brown who lives in Vernantes, Maine-et-Loire in the Loire Valley where he owns a gite, writes and gardens…

Can you tell us a little about you and where you are from?

After a working life in the building industry in southern England, I decided that France was less cluttered and less frenetic than the UK. All the reasons most people come to France  – the laid back lifestyle, the great food and wine, often better weather and a relaxed way of life are in abundance here in the Maine et Loire.

Where do you live in France and what inspired you to move to that particular place?

Some say its fate, others say it’s luck, but landing up here in this village was really accidental. I was on holiday, it was a summers day and there was a cloud burst, one of those heavy ones, that soaks you in two minutes. Luckily, or was it fate, I was outside an Immobilier (estate agent) store in Baugé, a town 20kms from here. They had just opened after lunch and I sought refuge from the rain. After very little discussion, possibly because it was in French, of which I knew little, the agent said: ”It’s going to rain for a while but it will get better later. Come, let me show you the area.”  The area included his list of properties which were for sale, not that I had any intention of buying anything, let alone a property!

Several stops later the afternoon was slipping away. The sun had come out and we were in the last but one property, when I suggested going back to collect the car and I would be on my way. “Just one more” he said.

As soon as I saw the unloved pair of cottages dating to the 19^th century, I knew I could turn them into a lovely home to retire to and bought them. I spent a lot of money doing them up and now have a beautiful 3-bedroom property which I rent out as a holiday home.

A stone building at the back of the house provides me with a lovely home. From here I write stories and love to garden and share the vegetables I produce with my guests.

Can you tell us more about the area, what there is to do and see…?

Vernantes is a lovely village, set upon gentle slopes just above the beautiful city of Saumur just a 20 minute drive away. There are plenty of facilities in the town which is tranquil and relaxing. There are so many attractions around here you can easily fill a fortnight’s stay with theme parks, castles, vineyard visits and more. Puy du Fou is close by, it’s the best theme park I have ever visited and Futuroscope is simply amazing. Le Mans racing circuit is only 70 kms away.

If you’re looking for walks around the pleasure lakes try the one at Rille where you can swim or hire a pedalo, just 20 minutes away. St Nicholas de Bourgueil is just 10-15 minutes away and has a beautiful lake. The Loire is on the doorstep with its chateaux and vineyards. The lovely villages of Baugé, and La Fleche with its authentic market and great zoo. And within easy distance, there’s Le Lude with its beautiful chateau, Angers, Tours, Azay-le-Rideau and Chinon and Saumur.

It really is a most lovely part of France, and that laid back lifestyle I wanted – it’s here by the bucket load…

Tempted to move here?! Read our expert’s property guide to the Maine-et-Loire

The post The Gite Life in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire appeared first on The Good Life France.

British stand-up comedian, mod, expat, goat whisperer (maybe) – and now Chambre d’hote host – Ian Moore’s unique insights into life in the Loire Valley will make you laugh out loud…

Hosts, Goats and Chambres d’Hôtes

There’s a point in my first or second book, probably both, where my wife, Natalie, and I sit down and have one of those ‘The future, what shall we do?’ conversations. We’d already lived in France for a few years, but the weekly commute back to the UK to perform stand-up had left its mark; a hollow eyed ‘dead man walking’ stare whenever I had to leave home and the family, a spine so damaged from overuse of budget airlines that it resembled a fairground helter skelter and a mini-bottle rosé addiction from trying to make the Eurostar feel more glamourous than it actually is. It was time for a change, we agreed. Time for a new chapter in our life.

‘Well one thing we’re definitely not doing,’ I said, tapping the table for emphasis, ‘is opening up our house as a chambres d’hôtes! We moved here for peace and quiet, not for other people.’

Natalie laughed, ‘Can you imagine?’ She snorted, ‘You as a host? Having to be nice to people?’ She could barely control herself now, which was slightly insulting. ‘No, definitely not a chambres d’hôtes!’

A comedian with a B&B in France

Our chambres d’hôtes opened in 2018 in a u-turn so dizzying that the term u-turn itself seems inadequate, It was more a triple axel half loop with salchow and our heads still haven’t stopped spinning. So why the change of heart? Had the sardonic stand-up comic, the professional cynic, mellowed? Was I suddenly, that awful thing, a ‘people person’? Well no, not exactly but in the end, you have to take what you have and work out the best way forward. I wanted to be at home more and concentrate on writing and the French house prices meant that, having sold up in Southern England, we had a big property with numerous outbuildings that would make a fine bed and breakfast independent of the family home. And, despite being told too many times for comfort, that maybe I wasn’t ‘genial host’ material, it was still a no-brainer.

‘I can change,’ I kept repeating, ‘not commuting every week will soften me.’ Of course, this was before French bureaucracy got involved, a combination of rabbit warren and threshing machine that has one purpose in mind, and one purpose only – to break you. For example, the necessary courtesy visit to the local Mairie to tell them of our plans added an extra 5,000€ to the bill when it turned out the new stable for the horse, let’s face it a glorified shed, also needed planning permission.

‘Your horse needs planning permission,’ said the Mayoress apologetically.

‘I don’t think we’ll get her upstairs to your office.’ I replied, to no-one’s amusement.

When renovation on the outbuildings eventually began, it was a massive relief. Not just that the project, eight months after that Mairie visit had finally begun, but that our outbuildings were finally being put to some practical use rather than acting as a Brocante recycling depot. For years we had pitched a stall at the local Brocantes and every year, thanks to Natalie and the children, we’d come back with more needless junk than we’d set out with. Now it was time to end this rigmarole and dump the whole nonsense at the dechetterie. (My favourite French word incidentally, dechetterie, it’s the local refuse tip but literally sounds like De-Shittery – which is exactly what it is.)

Eight fraught months later the place was finished, the gravel for the driveway went in on October 28^th and our first guest arrived the following day, ‘This is beautiful,’ the guest said, ‘have you been open long?’

‘About 40 minutes.’ I muttered under my breath.

Goats can sell B&B nights!

The idea of opening in the depths of winter was our canny way of using what would certainly be just a trickle of guests as Guinea-Pigs while we learnt the Chambres d’hôtes ropes, but immediately we were booked up! We had always reckoned that the heart of the Loire Valley was going to be fairly busy what with the chateaux, the wine and the cheese and so on, but the world famous ZooParc de Beauval just 20 minutes away is open all year round and packed out to boot. Plus, Natalie never stops smugly reminding me, our own mini-farm is partly stocked with animals from the zoo itself. Not Pandas, well not yet anyway, but our goats came from the zoo. They are, and I hate to admit this, a selling point. I’ve had a fractious relationship with the goats. I see now why the Zoo Beauval was so keen to be rid of them. They’re constantly finding new ways to escape their paddock and eat the roses, while encouraging the horse to do the same. I once had to wrestle a goat to the ground in our neighbour’s garden when she complained of being attacked. I carried the thing back home, it clinging to me like a hairy rucksack.

I had complained bitterly about their behaviour for years but was now told that they couldn’t be sent back, that they were, in fact, a non-negotiable asset and I had to put up with it. I stormed out to the field to address the goats personally and in no uncertain terms.

‘Now listen goats,’ I began, finger-wagging at the bemused animals, ‘I’ve had enough. But you play fair and I’ll play fair…’

I gave them the dressing down they thoroughly deserved and felt strangely empowered by my futile actions not realising that while doing so, a crowd had gathered. Three families staying in the chambres d’hôtes had assembled quietly to see what the fuss was all about. What they got was a middle-aged man in a tight-fitting suit reading the riot act to three utterly disinterested farm animals. I went red.

‘New members of staff,’ I said striding off like Basil Fawlty, ‘just breaking them in.’

I expected Natalie to be angry at the show too, but no.

‘That’s it,’ she said, ‘give the punters the angry, absurd, pent up man that’s in your books! That’s a great selling point!’

And that’s how it happens. One minute you think you have to calm down to run a BnB like the perfect host and the next you’ve created your own kind of ‘man at odds with the world’ theme park. A sort of Dollywood for expats. But you know what? It works.

Ian has written two books on living in France and travelling as a comedian. In 2019 his first fiction was published, a crime novel set in the Loire Valley.

And if you fancy a few days at Ian’s Chambres d’hôtes and to watch a grown man swear at livestock, you can see the place here www.lapausevaldeloire.com

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When it comes to filling your gîte weeks there’s lots you can do to help yourself…

Tips on photographing your gîte

How your gîte looks on the internet to potential clients is one of the top things you must get right. Photography is vitally important for a successful holiday let. It’s the owner’s best chance to create a good first impression. It helps the guest to begin building a picture of the surrounding area as well as the property they’re looking at. It’s good to include a choice of external shots from all angles (to include swimming pools and gardens). Also include descriptive internal shots to highlight sleeping arrangements and bathroom facilities. Plus a collection of shots from the surrounding area which include local attractions, restaurants, countryside etc.

A lot of attractive holiday homes just don’t achieve their full potential because they aren’t shown in their best light.

Use these top tips to make your photos better:

Always take photos on a sunny day and usually early in the morning is best, or early evening. But not in the full light of mid-day.

Include photos of the outside, interior and locality.

In the kitchen have a bowl of fruit on the table, maybe lay out some bread, wine (local of course) so that your guests can see it how it will look when they are there.

Make sure the garden looks as it will when guests stay. Sun beds round the pool, parasols up over tables etc. If you’ve got a lovely terrace or barbecue area, set it up to look as it does when people are enjoying it.

On a sunny day if you sprinkle the lawn and flowers beds with water. It can really make your photos zing.

When taking photos of the bathroom, include towels etc, as it would be when guests arrive. And, honestly I don’t think anyone wants to see a loo up close so leave that out!

Put vases of flowers in the rooms. If you do have a beautiful fireplace, light it so guests can see how it looks.

Don’t have people in your photos – guests want to imagine themselves there, not other people.

Guests can fall in love with a holiday property before they even get there. It enhances the enjoyment greatly. There’s nothing better than daydreaming about an upcoming holiday in the days and weeks leading up to the departure date. And, photography helps to make this happen…

The post Top tips to increase your gîte bookings appeared first on The Good Life France.

Londoner Linda Devine moved to France with her husband Bernard, an engineer, in 2014. After a lifetime of work in hospitality including management roles at the Ritz, Hilton and Accor Hotels, she knew just what makes guests happy and bought all the experience to her latest venture, a gorgeous gite near Carcassonne in the south of France.

We talk to Linda about life as a gite owner in France…

What made you choose this area to live in?

We were introduced to France through a colleague who was married to a French girl and she recommended an estate agent in Castelnaudary, our nearest town. We found Laurac le Grand, a medieval Protected Village, which was once the Capital of the Languedoc area. In fact, Laurac still has ancient underground grain stores, just off the Causeway. In 2002 we bought a holiday house in the village to renovate and in 2014 finally moved to France. We decided to buy a gite as a way to boost our income. When we found La Petite Maison Devine, we knew straight away that it was perfect. It has one bedroom but the house is very roomy, spread over three floors with a view to die for, as well as a large private terrace and parking.

What’s it like to run a gite in France?

I really enjoy the whole process from the client bookings and marketing to the design ideas for the rooms. But what I love most is making sure that guests have the best holiday experience, that they go home happy and having had a great time. Bernard’s engineering background is really great for ensuring La Petite Maison Devine remains pristine and in tip top condition!

What do you love about where you live?

Having lived and worked in central London, the peace and tranquillity that permeates Laurac puts everything into perspective. And the views are stunning. There’s nothing to beat a cup of tea on the terrace with the sound of a cuckoo in the background or a glass of wine enjoyed in the hot tub whilst looking at the stars. Many of our world weary travellers arrive tired and irritable and seven days later we say goodbye to rejuvenated people!

There’s so much to fall in love with in this area. For a start, there’s Carcassonne. The hilltop city looks like a Disney castle on the skyline. We love the Canal du Midi, you can easily hire a boat and just float along under the shade of the trees that line the side. It’s great to stop off and take a break in a café set up in one of the old Lock keepers houses. Eating fresh tarte au citron, drinking in the fresh air, taking in the stunning views, we really are so lucky.

We really enjoy walking through the rose coloured city of Albi with the scent of lotus blossoms on the air, the sight of the magnificent cathedral and ramparts lifts your spirits.

On a clear day the view from the 5km stretch of Narbonne-Plage, with the Pyrenees etched in the distance, is simply awe inspiring. One of our favourite things is to wander the esplanade people watching and finish off with a delicious supper in one of the many restaurants.

What three top tips would you give to others moving to France

1. Learn the language, it’s essential if you want to live life to the full in France.
2. Make yourself known to the local community, particularly the Mayor. Offer to help with Summer Fetes/Christmas Fetes etc and simply join in.
3. Enjoy it – the wine is good and the cheese is amazing!

The post The Good Life for expats in Carcassonne appeared first on The Good Life France.

The last few years have seen unprecedented numbers of buyers seeking homes in France and particularly homes that can be run as a gite business.

It seems that TV shows like Place in the Sun and Escape to the Chateau have fuelled the desires of many Brits to give up the rat race and escape to the sun, run their own gite business and live the good life. Here are some top tips for how to run a gite successfully.

Location, location, location

It’s probably the number one thing to consider when you’re thinking about running a gite business. Are you somewhere people want to visit and can they reach you easily? Think about transport – are you near enough to a ferry or airport that guests can comfortably get to where you are. How far is it to amenities, shops and restaurants? Most guests will want to be able to at least have access to restaurants within walking or easy cycling distance.

Be objective when you’re searching

You need to think of your property as a product, not just as a home. It’s so easy to fall in love with a huge property, romantic ruins and sprawling outbuildings you just know will make fabulous gites. But, if they’re going to take years to do up and cost a small fortune to renovate to a good enough standard, is this really the right property? You might be better off finding something that’s less work, less expensive to do up and ready to market sooner, especially if you’re dependent on an income generating gite.

Make sure there’s a market for your gite

Make sure the location you’re looking at isn’t already saturated with gites, you’ll be making life harder for yourself right from the off. If you’re moving to a little village and there are already a high number of holiday homes for hire, you might be better off looking elsewhere.

Check the competition

If there are already holiday homes in the area you’re considering, try to find out which are the most successful – and why. Book a stay at successful gites so you can experience what makes guests so positive about them and see if you can apply what you discover to your own gite.

Know your client

What are you offering? Family friendly accommodation? Close to the seaside, sports facilities, nature parks, fishing lakes? Will any one type of guest be more lucrative than another? Can any type of guest be out of season which means you may have more chance of renting out weeks all year round? These are all things to consider to ensure you’re buying the right property, in the right location.

Start your business plan as soon as possible

Don’t wait until every T is crossed and every I is dotted. Start your business plan as soon as you can. Register your gite, start a list of to do’s for how to market your gite, you don’t have to wait until open door day, as soon as you have an idea for when you’ll be ready for business – it’s time to get the ball rolling.

Marketing is critical

When it comes to getting people to find you so that they can book your gite, there’s work to be done. Register with a good agency (like French Connections!), get a website, create a social media presence. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the big 3 and if you’re going to do all three – beware it can take time because the most important thing is to be consistent, post every day or every other day. You might be better picking just one platform and working at it. Advertise online with websites that have an audience that matches the one you seek.

Take feedback seriously

Lots of people invite friends and family to stay when they first open. This is fine if you think they will be comfortable being honest instead of what normally happens, they love everything because they love you! Why not run a contest to offer a free weekend to strangers in return for honest feedback – it creates a buzz and you’ll get the truth.

Network

Link up with your local tourist office to see if you can be on their list of recommendations. If you’re in a small village, make sure the neighbours know about you, they might have family and friends who want to stay in the area. Join Facebook groups that might be able to help you market your gite.

Stand out from the crowd

Work out what you’re offering that differentiates you from the rest. What have you got to offer guests that other gites don’t? Swimming pool? Near a chateau that’s a popular visit? Why not link up with them to offer guests a favourable rate?  Hot tub in the garden? Near a restaurant of renown – would they be up for offering your guests a free aperitif. Not everyone will be open to doing something different to work with you to make you stand out from the crowd – but it’s worth trying.

The post 10 tips for running a gite business in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Peter Friend, joint owner of the award winning B&B La Villa Mazamet in the Tarn shares his top tips. The villa has been named France’s top luxurious B&B for several years and, says Peter, there are lots of things you can do to make your own B&B have a better chance of success…

Location

Location and accessibility to good transport links cannot be under estimated.

Community

Get involved with your community, local trades people, tourist office, etc. from a very early stage. This will encourage engagement and support for your business. Part of our ethos has always been to make sure we support the community in which we are based. For every 1€ we spend on running the business, 85 cents are spent in the town of Mazamet. And don’t be afraid to shout about that too, especially to your local Mayor!

Feedback

Listen to your guests and ask for feedback on their stay, your amenities and facilities. Plough some of your profits back in each year to make sure you not only keep on top with the décor and maintenance of your property but also add to the guest experience – return guests will always notice the smallest of detail and love it when you have taken their feedback on board.

Internet marketing and website

Get your website and marketing plan in place at least a year prior to opening your doors. Engage with guests via social media and E-newsletters to help develop return visits.

See your website as THE main marketing tool and invest in professional photography – this is a potential guest’s first engagement with you and you need to get in right.

Work together

Work with other B&Bs locally and regionally – don’t just see them as competition as you can work with them during busy periods or when you might need them to take a loyal guest you can’t accommodate.

The post Top Tips for running a successful B&B in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Mediterranean beaches, majestic mountains for winter skiing and cycling in summer, and some of the most popular cities in the world – France is the perfect place to buy a holiday home that you can also rent to tourists. But what type of property is best and where do you even start looking?

Although buying in France doesn’t come with any guarantees, it does bring with it a certain peace of mind. You’ve already got the numbers, and a business case, on your side. France is the world’s most visited country.

But how do you choose where to buy when every region of this vast country has so much to offer?

Align location search with rental needs

For holiday home owners who want to rent out as much as possible, there are certain places that stand out. Cannes on the Riviera is always a good choice as there is a year-round rental market there. It doesn’t just attract tourists in the summer, there are conferences all year round that constantly bring in thousands of business visitors.

Annecy in the Alps is also popular all year round. Not only is it a stunningly beautiful town, but its location near the Alps and on the lake means it is popular with families during the summer holidays, avid skiers in the winter and walkers throughout the year.

Make sure your criteria factors in your target market

Identifying the criteria for your new purchase is best accomplished by putting yourself in the shoes of your guests.

Think about is who will rent your property. Are you aiming for holidaymakers, business people, golf enthusiasts or skiers, for example? Imagine what would be the most important factors for them when looking for a rental property.

There are also some features that must be considered more seriously when you’re buying to accommodate paying guests and not just making decisions for yourself. For istance, if you’re buying a villa in the South of France then a pool is important. An apartment in Paris needs to be in a sought-after arrondissement with local facilities nearby. If it is on a high floor you need to find a building with a lift.

Consider hiring a property manager you can trust

Online reviews are important. It’s critical that guests find the property spotless, in good working order and that there is someone around to help them deal with problems should they arise.

If you live in another country, then being able to rely on the services offered by a property manager is crucial.

If you do live in the region then it can be cheaper to deal with any issues yourself – as long as you are happy to drop what you are doing at a moment’s notice. In the long run it can make more sense to factor the cost in to your business plan, just so you know the property will always be running at its best.

Property managers do cost money, but if you can’t do the job yourself, they really are worth it. You need someone to ensure the property is kept in excellent condition, that the rentals run smoothly and to show up in an emergency.

While having a local neighbour keep an eye on the place can seem like a cheaper, easier option, it isn’t always the best for long-term rental yields.

A professional property manager will have a much keener eye and it’s their interest to do a great job.

Take action to keep the outgoings down and the rental yields up

Having a holiday home that you rent out means you need to motivate yourself to keep things in good working order. Investing in quality fixtures and fittings from the start, for example, should mean you don’t have to constantly employ a handyman further down the line to fix kitchen cabinets or wardrobe doors.

Make sure you get all of your systems (air conditioning, heating, pool filtering, washing machines, and so on) serviced every year. Be aware that renters will overuse everything and probably won’t take the same amount of care as you, so you need to get them checked.

If the air con stops in the height of summer while the tenant is on vacation it will be classed as a disaster. The call out and repair charges will be much higher. And guests could ask for money off. And give you a bad review. Get checks done out of season and regularly.

And if you can, stay in your own property every year and test everything out yourself.

The post Four essential tips to help make your holiday home pay appeared first on The Good Life France.