The world is full of surprises. Having spent many a night and weekend with paintbrushes in hand and working our way through the house giving it a coat of magnolia and repainting the whites, we had our bungalow valued at the end of May. This was great as HIPs had been abolished thanks to the new government, whoo hoo. EPCs were still necessary so we booked to have that done just before the valuation.
We met a lovely local RICS surveyor through twitter, who happened to have owned french property some years ago, always nice to meet Francophiles, we somehow seem to gravitate towards them as the weeks and months go by. We chose an RICS surveyor as they are qualified to value property. It's OK for an Estate Agent to do so, but surely their opinion is based on what's selling. Mrs W having worked with mortgages back in the early 90's is aware that when buyers apply for a mortgage, the lender instructs and RICS surveyor, so that is what we went with.
It appears that we are considering selling at the wrong time... the market has dipped by 20%, particularly in our quiet area of Brighton & Hove. The value was more or less equivalent to the mortgage that we have. Not ones to be deterred by disappointing knowledge, we have decided to effect Plan B, to rent out our lovely 3bedroomed bungalow. We have been paying our mortgage at 7.29% from April 2008 to April 2010 and believe us, it has amounted to £1000+ each month for the last 2 years. The amazing thing is, we can acquire rent in that region! Ironic we think.
We are rather pleased that we have decorated throughout - we know every nook and cranny of this place, it's a lovely home to rent, with a bus stop right outside to get to and from town, some local schools and backs right onto the South Downs. Anyone wishing to move slightly away from the kiss me quick culture of Brighton, will we are sure, be very happy.
The sale of the house, would have enabled us to be financially free of the UK, and put us in a position to purchase in France towards the end of 2011. The property market in the UK will pretty much govern our activities for the foreseeable future. Team Wilkins is fairly creative at making and saving money.
We have started to research the process of renting in France..... ooh la la, what a lot of paperwork and consideration involved. Our French teacher has been a marvel, researching the current process, legislation and emailing her French family and contacts to amass this info for us. We are now working on crafting conversations, so that when we visit in July, we can visit Agents, and seek private French and English landlords and be taken seriously about our efforts to move to France in December 2010.
Saturday 19 June 2010
Friday 9 April 2010
The longest notice period ...
Well what a week! Whilst Easter came as a welcome break, boy there has been much to before it and after! Thankfully the sun has been shining this week, which has meant that the paint has been drying quickly.
Also this week Mrs W has handed in her notice to her long term employer of 11 years. A feeling of whoo hoo! Goodbye shackles of corporatism and hello self sufficiency at your own pace. Don't get me wrong, the last 11 years have been wonderful... some fantastic friends, a regular well paid salary, that has sustained our hefty mortgage of the last 2 years and a great path of self development. However, have never wanted to stay confined and always thought that there was a more enriching life to pursue... yes, France!
Mr W continues with his business as a self employed electrician and will be looking to set up as an 'artisan' of electrics in France... we have heard that there is still a call for reliable tradesmen. We hope that this is still the case?? In the autumn he will wind down the UK business and prepare to set up a new one in France. We very much hope that any pre-work we do in advance of our arrival enables us to hit the ground running when we arrive and earn a living.
We feel relatively comfortable that we have notified all the important people in our lives of our impending move. What has been rather refreshing is that many people have said that they are 'envious' of our move. We have not played up the lifestyle or the more sunnier days and the more relaxed pace of life in anyway shape or form [as the reality is that there will be many challenges for us and the economic/cultural/political angsts that are standard for any country]. But with an election on the horizon in the UK, and the ever growing pressure of 'survival' in a country that could potentially rest on the edge of bankruptcy, we feel sure that many others would also like to leave! and make a new life somewhere else with less pressure.
We feel blessed by people's optimism for us and the good wishes that we have received from our new twitter buddies.
Also this week Mrs W has handed in her notice to her long term employer of 11 years. A feeling of whoo hoo! Goodbye shackles of corporatism and hello self sufficiency at your own pace. Don't get me wrong, the last 11 years have been wonderful... some fantastic friends, a regular well paid salary, that has sustained our hefty mortgage of the last 2 years and a great path of self development. However, have never wanted to stay confined and always thought that there was a more enriching life to pursue... yes, France!
Mr W continues with his business as a self employed electrician and will be looking to set up as an 'artisan' of electrics in France... we have heard that there is still a call for reliable tradesmen. We hope that this is still the case?? In the autumn he will wind down the UK business and prepare to set up a new one in France. We very much hope that any pre-work we do in advance of our arrival enables us to hit the ground running when we arrive and earn a living.
We feel relatively comfortable that we have notified all the important people in our lives of our impending move. What has been rather refreshing is that many people have said that they are 'envious' of our move. We have not played up the lifestyle or the more sunnier days and the more relaxed pace of life in anyway shape or form [as the reality is that there will be many challenges for us and the economic/cultural/political angsts that are standard for any country]. But with an election on the horizon in the UK, and the ever growing pressure of 'survival' in a country that could potentially rest on the edge of bankruptcy, we feel sure that many others would also like to leave! and make a new life somewhere else with less pressure.
We feel blessed by people's optimism for us and the good wishes that we have received from our new twitter buddies.
Saturday 3 April 2010
April - month of much activity
Well, friends and family have been told that we are off! But how do you tell 2 Jack Russells that they will be moving?? Another thing to add to the do list: Rabies jabs and dog passports, because Woody & Scruffy, as were fondly named at birth, will be accompanying us.
We have started our intensive French lessons. By chance through Twitter we found a fabulous French teacher, who is herself a French native and very good at her job too! She is highly recommended http://www.brightonfrenchlessons.com. In just a few weeks we have accomplished the alphabet, building some short sentences using the verbs, to have, to go and to be along with many others. We are watching French films, and listening to French radio, and post-it notes everywhere! Think and be French in everyday life is the key says our French teacher. We thoroughly believe she is worth her weight in gold. As the months fly by, there is much for us to consider; registration for a number of things - business, carte vitale, websites etcetc.
We are finding ourselves living 2 sets of lives and as December gets closer, will feel like we are like snakes shedding an old skin as we learn to live with the new one!
Now that we are in the fourth month of the year, decorating is the theme for this month. Magnolia seems to be the colour, no other option other than white, and we want to sell a home not a sterile unit. So our spare time is taken up by painting whilst listening to French radio. Fortunately, at the end of those painting nights, we can enjoy a small glass of pineau, a delicious drink that warms the cockles on many a cold night... or rather helping us get to sleep!
The sale of our house, will be pretty much like us, unconventional, not wishing to line the pockets of Estate Agents, we shall be selling our house privately. The female half of Team Wilkins has her finger on the pulse when it comes to online activity, social media and all of that malarkey, so a bit of viral marketing and a swish website, should hopefully whet a few appetites for those wishing to move to Sussex coast. Meanwhile, work has been pouring in for Mr Team Wilkins. Not complaining! and rather pleased that the evenings are now much lighter so that other activities can be achieved.
We have started our intensive French lessons. By chance through Twitter we found a fabulous French teacher, who is herself a French native and very good at her job too! She is highly recommended http://www.brightonfrenchlessons.com. In just a few weeks we have accomplished the alphabet, building some short sentences using the verbs, to have, to go and to be along with many others. We are watching French films, and listening to French radio, and post-it notes everywhere! Think and be French in everyday life is the key says our French teacher. We thoroughly believe she is worth her weight in gold. As the months fly by, there is much for us to consider; registration for a number of things - business, carte vitale, websites etcetc.
We are finding ourselves living 2 sets of lives and as December gets closer, will feel like we are like snakes shedding an old skin as we learn to live with the new one!
Now that we are in the fourth month of the year, decorating is the theme for this month. Magnolia seems to be the colour, no other option other than white, and we want to sell a home not a sterile unit. So our spare time is taken up by painting whilst listening to French radio. Fortunately, at the end of those painting nights, we can enjoy a small glass of pineau, a delicious drink that warms the cockles on many a cold night... or rather helping us get to sleep!
The sale of our house, will be pretty much like us, unconventional, not wishing to line the pockets of Estate Agents, we shall be selling our house privately. The female half of Team Wilkins has her finger on the pulse when it comes to online activity, social media and all of that malarkey, so a bit of viral marketing and a swish website, should hopefully whet a few appetites for those wishing to move to Sussex coast. Meanwhile, work has been pouring in for Mr Team Wilkins. Not complaining! and rather pleased that the evenings are now much lighter so that other activities can be achieved.
2010 Life Changing Plans Afoot
At the end of 2009, we had made the firm decision to move to France. It had been something we had thought about for the last 4 years, and each holiday visit helped us decide to put a stake in the ground and go for it. Well December 2010 is going to be the month/year that we do it.
Why, for a start we love the French way of life, the female half of Team Wilkins enjoys growing her own vegetables and making things. The male half of Team Wilkins is looking forward to setting up a business as an Electrician, currently enjoying the realms of self employedom in the UK. But as we all know, things are tough at the moment, we both work extremely hard to fulfill massive mortgage requirements and juggling a myriad of other things to 'get by'. Don't get us wrong, we are not blind to the challenges of living in another country. But we would like to spend the remainder of our lives, enjoying more nice weather, more nice wine and a enjoy a more community spirit that fits with both our values and beliefs.
We have much to do; redecorate a house, market it and sell it [at a time, when selling could be tricky - but thankfully the South seems to be doing quite well for property pricing at this point in time]. We need to learn the language. We know it's not enough to just conversate and get by. We have to work when when we get there, and therefore, need to be able to converse about many of the trials and tribulations of new arrivals in a foreign country. At the same time, we both have businesses in the UK that need our attention, the daily hamster wheel of life continues to turn, as we add a new dimension that will lead to one door closing and another one opening.
Why, for a start we love the French way of life, the female half of Team Wilkins enjoys growing her own vegetables and making things. The male half of Team Wilkins is looking forward to setting up a business as an Electrician, currently enjoying the realms of self employedom in the UK. But as we all know, things are tough at the moment, we both work extremely hard to fulfill massive mortgage requirements and juggling a myriad of other things to 'get by'. Don't get us wrong, we are not blind to the challenges of living in another country. But we would like to spend the remainder of our lives, enjoying more nice weather, more nice wine and a enjoy a more community spirit that fits with both our values and beliefs.
We have much to do; redecorate a house, market it and sell it [at a time, when selling could be tricky - but thankfully the South seems to be doing quite well for property pricing at this point in time]. We need to learn the language. We know it's not enough to just conversate and get by. We have to work when when we get there, and therefore, need to be able to converse about many of the trials and tribulations of new arrivals in a foreign country. At the same time, we both have businesses in the UK that need our attention, the daily hamster wheel of life continues to turn, as we add a new dimension that will lead to one door closing and another one opening.
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