A day in the life of a property finder.

At first glance the job of a property finder may seem quite straightforward – the clue is in the name, you have to find a property; this in itself is actually the easy part – due to living in the area, knowing every corner of the region, and having a good understanding of the local market and how the agents and private sellers work. 

However, at closer inspection the role of a property finder is a lot more complicated than that. My clients are not just asking me to find them a property, they are asking me to find them a home, which is much more delicate and which usually leads to finding them a new life altogether. Get this wrong, and you will have unhappy clients on your hands!

The key to a successful search is to spend a long time getting to know your clients and building up a relationship. This can be over a period of several months, via emails and telephone conversations. It may just start out with giving them some information on the area, or about property prices, then sending them my newsletter to keep them in the loop of what is happening in Southern Burgundy. 

Then suddenly one day I will receive an email that will say “we are finally in a position to make the move to France but we need your help and expertise please!” ...

Read the full article here:

A day in the life of a property finder.

What is the best way to travel to the UK from France?

I suppose this question all depends on where in France you live and how many people you need to take with you!

In my case I was travelling with my husband, baby daughter and my mum, so after looking into all travel options we decided on driving to Calais then taking the ferry on the way there as this would give us a good break from the car and would be an adventure for my daughter who is 2 1/2! We took the Eurotunnel on the way back where we were also allowed to catch an earlier train, very flexible journey!

This was also the cheapest option because we were four people travelling and even though it takes longer in time than flying from Lyon, I will definitely be doing it again, as the roads from where I live in Burgundy just 20 minutes from the A6, are a dream with hardly any traffic and with two stops for a coffee and to stretch our legs it took us a comfortable 7 hours to arrive at Calais, where we were able to catch an earlier ferry and arrive at Dover for 4pm UK time.

This was when the fun started as instead of a 2 hour journey to Hampshire it took us over 3 hours as we had the pleasure of travelling on the M25... However we still made good time and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the family for a few days and visiting Peppa World near Southampton!

Another benefit of taking the car is that you can bring back lots of goodies that you just don't get here in France! My list consisted of: Galaxy chocolate, Cadbury's giant buttons, Soreen malt loaf, Fox's biscuits, blue WKD and lots more bad things for your health and waistline! I wonder how long my stock will last!

That's what I love about this part of France, we are not too far to travel by car, but also have Lyon airport just over an hour away, or the Eurostar from Paris which is just an 1 1/2 direct train ride from Macon, making being away from my family that little bit easier as I know I am just a short journey away from them whenever I need!

Autumn newsletter - happy reading

Autumn issue of Burgundy Relocation newsletter

The hidden treasures of Southern Burgundy revealed!

Check out my latest article published in October's issue of French Property News:

Hidden treasures of Southern Burgundy

Happy reading!

Property of the month!

This month I have decided to show you what you can get when you have a very good budget of just under 400K in this area of Burgundy. True there are lots of properties that can be purchased for less than 150K, but I could not resist showing you this property at it is located in the beautiful area of Matour which is in the Clunisois region with all commodities in the village.

The property is a traditional old farmhouse which has been fully renovated with style retaining its original features creating a welcoming atmosphere.
The house offers 170m2 of living space with fitted kitchen, large living room with open fire place, and four good sized bedrooms.

The outside space that comes with this property does not disappoint with 1,300m2 of well maintained gardens with stunning views over the Burgundy countryside, swimming pool and a large barn.

The property has an asking price of 389,000€. Should you wish to find out more about this property or what else is on offer in this part of Burgundy then please get in touch!

The French health system has lived up to its reputation!

I have always known that the French health system was good, but until now I have not really had the full experience. 

That was until I could no longer put up with my back pain and so took some time out and went to my local GP in the village where I live.

I have had problems with my back and neck since I was 14! I have tried every treatment from physio to osteopaths to acupuncture, all which are rather expensive in the UK and need to be maintained regularly. 

Not once in over 15 years did any doctor or specialist in the UK suggest having a full scan of my spine and neck, but just one visit to the GP here in France and he had me shipped off to a radiologist for a full scan which I was able to book the following week - no waiting around! 

The service was impeccable in a modern clinic and I was even given my scans to take home with me! The cost was 150€ which is fully reimbursed through my carte vitale (health card) and my mutuelle (health insurance).

The scan showed that my neck and spine were too straight among other things which explained why I was permanently suffering - this in itself was such a relief as I finally had an explanation for my pain! 

Once the doctor had seen the scans he gave me a prescription which referred me to a kiné (physio) for as many appointments as was necessary. 

I had expected this to be another expensive affair but kiné are on the same level as GPs and so are 100% reimbursed just with the carte vitale! 

And to top things off there was a kiné in my village so 2 minutes on foot from my house - that is what I call a luxury as I am used to having to at least take the car in the UK to get to a specialist.

I have now had 5 appointments with the kiné - twice a week and have only just been asked to pay - 80€ for the 5 appointments... which will be back in my bank account by the end of the week! 

Not only does the kiné have a modern office with fabulous views over the Burgundy countryside but also a gym area with lots of sports equipment which I will soon be making the most of so that I can strengthen my back muscles, again 100% reimbursed!

Finally I feel confident that I can get my back problems sorted and that help is on hand just up the road and for free should I ever need it in the future. 

All of this in a small village in the heart of the Burgundy countryside, now that is what I call an impressive service!

Summer issue of Burgundy Relocation's newsletter - happy reading!

In this issue read about what you can get for 300,000€ in the Clunisois wine villages, the exact route of the Tour de France, and what exactly a primeur is and why I love them so much! Happy reading...


Summer issue newsletter

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Spring issue - Burgundy Relocation Newsletter

Check out what is happening with the property market in South Burgundy and see just how far your money can go in this beautiful part of France!

SPRING ISSUE


Happy reading....

Life in a Maconnais village: latest article for FrenchEntrée check it out!

Life in a Maconnais village

For those of you in Burgundy enjoy your sunny weekend!

Real life story about setting up as a property finder...

Although I now have clients and lots of experience under my belt I always like to think back to when I started up as a property finder!

Take a look at this article to find out more about what it is like setting up a business in France and getting yourself known: 

A day in the life of...

Recent press coverage for Burgundy Relocation...

Check out this article in the latest FrenchEntrée magazine page 78:

Why I love the Clunisois...

Romantic Burgundy property...

Latest newsletter just out: Romantic Burgundy Property

Happy reading!

Property search in and around Beaune - what a treat!

Just recently I had the pleasure of searching out properties in and around the area of Beaune. This is actually on the outskirts of my Southern Burgundy territory but as it was such a precise search and the time-scale was quite short (2-3 weeks over the Christmas period) and my clients were coming from far away in Australia, I decided to take on the challenge!

I am very pleased that I did as I really enjoyed discovering the many renowned wine villages that this area of Burgundy has to offer. My clients knew the area very well and wanted me to concentrate on the villages that can be found mostly to the south and west of Beaune, within easy driving access to the city centre.

My favourite villages were Savigny-les-Beaune, and Santenay as they have everything that you could wish for in terms of commodities plus a few extra restaurants! However I also loved the smaller village of Volnay which is very rich and known throughout the world for its delicious wine produce!

As the visits took place in winter time I was obviously not seeing it at its best (!) but it managed to capture my heart even with the lack of the summer heat, so I know that in the summer time I will definitely be taking time out to take a day trip up the wine route and stop off at some of the little cafes and restaurants I have found throughout my search.

I understand why Beaune and its surrounding wine villages attract so many visitors from all over the world, however property prices are a lot higher than if you were to look just that little bit further south nearer to Cluny. The scenery is just as beautiful with just as many charming villages and the temperatures are that little bit higher as Macon is the official border where the South of France begins. I guess until people discover this part of Burgundy house prices will remain relatively low which is good news for those who have already fallen in love with Southern Burgundy!

Here are some photos of some of the properties and areas I visited, enjoy....

A piece of Southern Burgundy countryside for a tiny price...

Property of the month


If you are looking for great views, a countryside location, a little retreat away from your daily life but on a budget... this property could be for you!

Nestled between the pretty village of Les Echarmeaux and the lively town of La Clayette, this classical French country house offers habitable living straight away with character features like wooden beamed ceilings and a spectacular view over the Burgundy countryside.

The property is all on one level with a large open plan living room and kitchen area opening out onto the spacious garden. There are two good sized bedrooms with storage space and a shower room and laundry.

Set on a plot of land of 900m2 this property offers peaceful holiday living but not far from local commodities for the small asking price of 110,000€ - definitely worth a look!

Day trip to Paris - cheap and easy from Southern Burgundy!

One of the main reasons that I decided to move to this area of Burgundy was its great location in France with easy access to Paris, Lyon and the Alps.

After booking our tickets to Paris a few months in advance I was able to treat my mum to a day in Paris travelling first class on the TGV for only 70€ each. Obviously you can travel to Paris for under 50€ if booked in advance and in second class, but as this was her 60th birthday I thought it would be nice to travel in style!

The nearest station to us is Macon, which is ideal as there are several direct trains to Paris taking just under 1 1/2 hours, which leaves plenty of time to spend a pleasant day taking in the sights of the French capital.

We were greeted by a sunlit Paris and after a morning of wandering round the antiques area of Saint Germain and visiting the Musée d'Orsay, we crossed the river and took in the sights along the Champs Elysée.

We then stopped off for afternoon tea at the famous Ladurée tea room, treating ourselves to a vanilla tea and being spoilt for choice with the large selection of exquisite macaroons and delicate cakes. The Ladurée shop next door tempted us with all its sumptuous offerings and we ended up buying a box of their famous mini macaroons.

We then had just over an hour to wander around the small streets surrounding La Concorde where you will find all of the chic boutiques like Dior, and Chanel before deciding to take in some of the other sights Paris has to offer by taking a bus ride from La Concorde to Gare de Lyon where our train to Macon was on time returning us to the Burgundy countryside just in time for supper.

Now that we know that a day trip to Paris is this easy and enjoyable we shall definitely be making the best of this location by doing this again soon!

Autumn time in Southern Burgundy

It has been years since I have been able to really appreciate this wonderful time of year, as for the past 10 years I have been living in cities! However autumn in Southern Burgundy is a real treat! 

The rich colours, the crisp sunny mornings give me a real boost and confirm yet again that I have made the best choice ever to move to this beautiful part of France.

I just wish I was good at painting because yesterday I was walking past the château in La Clayette when it's view in the sunshine reflecting perfectly on the river actually made me stop and take it all in. Instead of a painting I took a few photos to capture the moment!

This area is still rather unknown to foreigners, but as I have learnt from my experience, once you discover the beauty of this area you never want to leave!

Should you wish to know more about this area and what hidden gems in terms of property South Burgundy has to offer then take a look at this link, or keep following my blog!

This months newsletter for Southern Burgundy - Enjoy!

Burgundy Relocation Newsletter: issue n°3

Food delight in Southern Burgundy

When you think of Burgundy the first thing that comes to mind are the fabulous vineyards, and usually you next think of the gastronomical delights that this beautiful region is known for.

Last Friday I was fortunate enough to get the chance to combine exquisite food with some of the regions best wines when I was invited by an expat client to have lunch at the well known Charollais restaurant Frédéric Doucet.

Famous for its fine creative cuisine such as the famous Charolais steak, breast of pigeon, fillets of Erquy sole or warm grand marnier soufflé. Frédéric Doucet offers elegant dining in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, where the waiting staff are extremely attentive and are the perfect image of the true French waiter with their crisp white aprons and black suits.

I chose the Menu "Instant Gourmand" which for 39€ you get starter, main and dessert. On top of this you have the pleasant surprise of being served two amuse bouches before the starter which are a small meal in themselves! These little savoury delights make you realise that you are in for a real treat with the rest of the meal.

For the starter I had fried foie gras with roasted apples, spinach salad with a rich sauce, followed by roasted hunted duck, candied apples and french chanterelles mushrooms, and for dessert I had the Doucet "All Chocolate" which consists of four small chocolate desserts:

My expat client had the warm soufflé with Grand Marnier:

After all of this delightful food I was rather full but we were in for another treat as when we were brought the coffees we were also served four small mignardises which was a dessert in itself! 

Throughout the meal we were able to taste some of the wines the region is famous for: Pouilly Fuissé, and Givry. The wine menu was a very thick black book, and offers any wine imaginable!

I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is in the Southern Burgundy area, or for those a bit further away it is definitely worth the extra miles as this experience will remain one of the pleasures that you will want to repeat again and again! And at the small price of 39€ it is definitely great value for money!

Enjoy......

Properties to suit all budgets in Southern Burgundy...

This month I have taken a look at what the Charollais/Brionnais region has to offer, and have put together a selection of properties to show you that for all budgets this area offers something for everyone. Enjoy…

49,000€

For those looking for a renovation project this Brionnais farmhouse near La Clayette could be ideal. This Burgundy stone property has the potential to create a 100m2 living space with room for a kitchen, living room, dining room and bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms above. 

It is marketed at 49,000€ and is situated on a plot of land of 1,330 m2, in the heart of the countryside. Peace and quiet assured, but not isolated!

79,000€

Should you wish to be part of the community for a small price, take a look at this village house located between Charolles and La Clayette. On the market for 79,000€, this property offers fitted kitchen, large living/dining room, bathroom, 3 bedrooms (2 with original tomette tiles, one with parquet flooring) and a loft. 

This village house has a nice sized courtyard and a separate piece of land of 500m2. With a little updating this house could be a great village home!

118,000€

10 minutes from La Clayette you will find a pretty village house fully renovated over 85m2. Offering fitted kitchen, a large light living/dining room with original stone walls, large bathroom, and a good sized bedroom. 

This property offers potential to extend in the convertible loft. On the market at 118,000€ this house offers a finished product at an affordable price.

169,000€

For 169,000€ you could buy this charming stone house located in a beautiful setting between La Clayette and Cluny. 

Renovated to an original country style this property offers 120m2 of living space over two levels, with kitchen, living/dining room with fireplace, laundry room with WC on the ground floor and office, two bedrooms and bathroom upstairs. 

Definitely worth a look!

245,000€

In the heart of the Charollais countryside with views over the rolling hills, this charming farmhouse has been renovated with care: stone fireplace, tomette tile flooring, exposed beams, and Burgundy stone walls. 

All on one level this property offers 180m2 of living space with a large living room, open kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom and vaulted cellar. The loft benefits from a good quality roof and could be converted easily. 

Situated on 3,000m2 of land including a courtyard, garden, fountain and a well. Close to local amenities this house is on the market for 245,000€.

250,000€

For those looking for a true French style house why not take a look at this 19^th century bourgeois property located in a Charollais village. On the market for only 250,000€ as it needs a bit of TLC, this property offers 220m2 of living space with vaulted cellars running below the whole of the property. 

On the ground floor there is a large family kitchen, dining room with fireplace, a living room with parquet flooring, bathroom and large bedroom. On the first floor you will find four bedrooms and an office. 

This is a real authentic French property with lots of character, with original tomette tile floors, fireplaces, and exposed beamed ceilings in all rooms. This property lies on 800m2 of enclosed land with a well. 

A true piece of French country life for a reasonable price!

345,000€

And finally for 345,000€ this impressive country house with view could be yours. Located between La Clayette and Cluny, in a hamlet close to village with amenities, it is fully renovated offering 240m2 of living space with vaulted cellar. 

On the ground floor is a large entrance hall, open kitchen over the dining room, living room, games room/office, and a shower room. Upstairs is a mezzanine living room, four large bedrooms, two with shower rooms needing to be finished, a bathroom and a dressing room. Floor heating is throughout the ground floor level and electric heating upstairs. 

There is also an outbuilding attached to the property being currently used as a laundry room with a convertible loft above. Situated on 5,500m2 of enclosed land with fruit trees, wooden terrace, well, electric gate and videophone.