I’m an estate agent and these are the five errors that newcomers make in France

Didi Hawkins, 61, is an estate agent for Leggett Immobilier based in the village of Bouresse, 30km south of Poitiers, in western France. 

She moved with her husband and four children from Stroud, Gloucestershire, 19 years ago.

Most of her clients are French and British, but she has worked with people from all over the world looking for their dream home in France.

1. Too much land 

“UK buyers often believe they need vast swathes of French countryside. Perhaps it’s because land in the UK costs the same as a small moon, so owning fields here feels like status, freedom, and a touch of feudal glamour,” says Ms Hawkins. 

“But they forget one small detail: land does not look after itself. Acres of it quickly turn into a full-time job involving ride-on mowers, brambles that grow faster than guilt, and neighbours who mysteriously ‘borrow’ your strimmer. For holiday homes especially, less land usually means more happiness.”

2. Buying in isolation

Many people eyeing property in France imagine themselves in a detached home far away from any neighbours, but this can be a mistake.

“After escaping the overcrowded UK, the idea of no neighbours for miles sounds blissful. In reality, ‘isolated’ in France can mean really isolated – as in, the postman is your only social contact,” says Ms Hawkins. 

“A couple of French neighbours is usually a blessing. They’ll help you integrate, keep an eye on your house, and occasionally bring you tomatoes the size of footballs.”

3. Gîte dreams

Many foreigners have dreamed of buying a gîte in France and starting their own business. But planning to live where you operate your business can backfire.

“People stay in a nice gîte and think: ‘This is lovely! I could do it better.’ 

This is how many people end up buying a house with gîtes, or with outbuildings ‘perfect for conversion’, plus a pool, a hot tub, a sauna… 

But once guests start appearing in your garden at 7:00 asking how the coffee machine works, it becomes less dreamy,” says Ms Hawkins.

“If clients genuinely need the income, I usually suggest buying a home for themselves first, then a separate house nearby as a gîte. 

That way the guests don’t know where you live – a priceless advantage. And if you discover that changing beds and cleaning bathrooms is not your spiritual calling, you can sell the gîte house without accidentally selling off half your own garden.”

4. Renovation ambitions

Many older properties in France require at least some renovation. Overconfidence in this area can come back to haunt buyers, Ms Hawkins warns. 

“Many people overestimate their DIY talents – and underestimate renovation costs, which have rocketed since the Covid-19 pandemic,” she says. 

“A particularly dangerous path is taking advice from total strangers on Facebook groups. Even worse: hiring builders, roofers or electricians you’ve ‘met’ online.

“Always ask your estate agent for recommendations – they know who’s reliable and who is likely to disappear with your deposit and your wheelbarrow.”

Another vital consideration is what paperwork you need to undertake certain work. 

“Skipping planning permission is another classic mistake. You may get away with it while you live there, but when it’s time to sell, missing paperwork can cause tears. The permission process is free, simple enough and absolutely worth doing.”

5. Walking distance to a bar

Many property hunters want to be close to amenities such as the local bar. 

“This is a very popular request – and usually a very unrealistic one. Generally, you’re either in a village or in the countryside,” says Ms Hawkins. 

"If you want countryside, the bar is usually too far to walk to – at least, too far to walk back from."

“And even if there is a bar when you buy the house, in many areas they open and close with great regularity. The one you fall in love with in spring may have been boarded up by autumn.”