Today we chat to FranceBuyingGuide.com readers, Mark and Pauline Neville. After years of planning, the couple made the move to France to set up the gite business that they had always dreamed of running.
Article written by The Overseas Guides Company
We spoke to them about how enlisting the help of currency experts Smart Currency Exchange helped them with the process…
What made you decide to make the move to France?
For as long as I can remember we have always wanted to move to France. Our plan has always been to make the move, semi-retire and run our own gite business! It’s great that we have finally done it.
Where in France do you live?
We made the move in September 2011 and we live in the beautiful Poitou-Charentes Region of West France.
Please can you tell us a little bit about your property?
Les Deux Charrues is our complex which is home to two lovely gites – Le Goose Cottage and Le Pigeonnier. Both of the cottages are completely separate from each other and the main house affording our guests the privacy that they want. Each cottage has its very own swimming pool, outside dining area and sun loungers and more active guests can enjoy table tennis, cricket, badminton and boules.
Both cottages are available as holiday gite, B&B and for long winter lets, making them an ideal base for people seeking properties here in France. You can check out the website here.
How did you come across Smart Currency Exchange?
We first contacted Smart Currency Exchange in April 2011, after collecting leaflets at the French Property Exhibition in London, 2010. Trader, Richard Brown very quickly responded to our enquiry and has remained our point of contact since.
How have Smart helped you with your transfers from the UK to France?
Richard set up an account for us and talked us through the process; he then kept in regular contact during the moving process and was invaluable with his advice. The transfer of funds for the purchase in September 2011, went extremely smoothly and was with the Notaire within the timescale on both occasions.
Were you happy with the service that you received?
We have never doubted the professionalism of Richard and his colleagues at Smart and it was reassuring to know that, as this is a normal process for them, we could trust them with our money. The buying process in France is complex and this at least took one worry out of the equation!
Since our move to France, we have called on the services of Smart for further transfers and one simple email to Richard and his team, is enough to get things moving. The last transfer was completed in less than 48 hours! We would recommend the services of Smart to anyone considering making the move to Europe, their knowledge is exemplary.
Do you have any advice for people who are looking to do the same as you?
Do lots of homework first – we have been considering this move for 20 years! Also never underestimate the importance of learning the language.
To find out more, visit the Currency Zone or download Smart Currency Exchange’s free report by clicking here [http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/freereport1.aspx].
If you’re looking for properties for sale in France or a gite of your own, why not take a look through the French listings on Rightmove Overseas.
To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in France, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘France Property Buying Guide’
The views and comments herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Rightmove Overseas, Rightmove Group Ltd or Rightmove Plc