How much it costs to relocate to France will vary depending on your country of origin, when exactly you make the move and how much stuff you take with you. What follows should stop fees spiralling along the way.
Use an agent
An agent used to working with international buyers can save you money in several areas.
“If they buy directly with a French estate agent, they would sell them the property, then pass the file onto the notaire’s office,” says Kate Thompson of France Property Angels.
“This can be difficult for people who do not speak French or do not know the French system.”
Agents such as hers help buyers through the process, which often means they avoid having to employ a French solicitor or translator, saving them money.
They do not charge the buyer, but make their money by splitting the estate agent fees 50/50.
Translating
Buyers can be understandably nervous if they do not speak fluent French, and often pay for a translation service. However, this is not always necessary.
“Not everything needs translating word for word,” says estate agent Carol Ann Wheeler of Wheeler Property.
She recommends finding a notaire and estate agent who can work in French and English.
“They will be able to translate and explain what the consequences of the terms are rather than having a translation into English but still not knowing what it means.”
Mortgage and currency exchange
Getting a mortgage in place early is a good idea – this is where using a broker can help, rather than going directly through French banks.
It also means you go into the househunting process knowing exactly what your budget is.
Looking into currency exchange companies early too.
“Speak to them before you come to look,” says Ms Thompson.
“You can fix the rate in advance and it doesn’t cost you anything.
"You are taking a bit of a gamble because the exchange rate can go the other way as well, but at least you know exactly what it is going to cost you at that point, without any nasty surprises.”
Mrs Wheeler recommends talking to a reputable currency company instead of trying to do small trades on internet sites.
“Huge savings can be made by booking your currency exchange on a forward trade ie. trading your currency when the rate is good.”
Consider a property exchange
Exchanges, especially for properties of equal value, can lead to significant savings on notaire fees.
When purchasing property, it is usually the buyer who pays the notaire’s fees, made up mainly of various taxes. For new-builds, these fees are normally between 3% and 4% of the sale price.
For older properties, they are usually between 7% and 8%, of which 5.8% are taxes.
However, if properties of equal value are exchanged and not sold, government taxes are just 5% of the price of one of the properties – and are shared between the two parties involved.
The fee charged for the transaction by the notaire is usually the same as for a sale, between 15% and 20% of the taxes to be paid on the deal.
This too is shared between the two parties. It is even possible to exchange properties of different values.
Shipping
Shipping your possessions to France can be costly.
For Britons, following Brexit, there are potentially now additional customs formalities and charges related to moving items over the Channel.
In most cases these can be avoided if you are moving to a main home, you have owned the goods for at least six months, and you are moving them to France within 12 months of your arrival.
Think hard about what you really need – do you want to ship over everything or take the opportunity to downsize?
“We see clients paying shipping duty on things that will probably be thrown away – white goods, old sofas and furniture that they had in their UK property but doesn’t look so good in their French country idyll,” says Mrs Wheeler.
Packing and timing
Packing up and dismantling furniture yourself saves on labour costs. Then you can use a removal company to transport your belongings.
Check Facebook Marketplace and other local selling sites for people giving away cardboard boxes for free, rather than buying new.
Movers’ rates can differ depending on the time of year.
Avoid June – September, as it is peak moving season, as well as December and the Christmas holidays. Weekends and the end of the month can also be more expensive.
The cheapest times to move are mid-week and mid-month in autumn and winter.
This could save you between 20 and 25% of the cost of your move, according to La Poste.
Compare quotes
Removal company costs can vary hugely depending on the size of your house, the amount of belongings you are moving and the distance to be covered.
Most firms offer several levels of service, with low-cost packages (loading, transporting and unloading) increasingly popular in France.
Do your research ahead of time and compare quotes. Costs can start from €35 per square metre for the most basic packages.
Booking well in advance – say two to three months ahead of the move – will often mean a cheaper quote as it gives the firm longer to arrange the move.
Reader feedback
We spent over £3,500 to bring our furniture to France. With the benefit of hindsight we should have left it in the UK as none of it really fitted in our French home. Plus we found that we could have furnished the whole house in France for half the cost.
In fact, of all the stuff we brought over we only have two items left.
Also for the first year while establishing yourself, use a hand holding service to deal with utilities and other complicated matters. - M.H.
Hand holding services are unregulated and there are sadly some scammers. Best to go with a recommendation. - I.C.
I’m delighted that we brought our furniture over, even though it cost us around £7,000 to do so. To replace our furniture in France, we would have paid £7,000 just to purchase an equivalent leather Chesterfield suite.
So I would suggest people planning to move here look at their specific contents (including DIY equipment and gardening items) and price them up to buy replacements in France, and then make decisions. - R.A
Try and get help from different forums of British immigrants/French people living in France on Facebook.
Some people have been living in France for a long time, some have just arrived and are asking for help. Some can help with which electricity, which Internet to choose / they have in their area. - J.D.
Buy from an immobilier, don't go down the road of a private sale; do not get involved in a copropriété; insist on a translator if your understanding of French is not too good, the legalese here is difficult. - E.M.
Think carefully about what to bring over from the UK. Will you really need it? I brought too many clothes that will never be worn here.
The way of life is very different. Consider getting an account like Revolut to exchange money at a good rate and take advantage when the rates are high.
Make sure when buying that you look at the big things like electric, roof, fosse, heating as they are all very costly to replace. - S.K.
I would certainly advise someone who is considering buying land in France to build a new home to consider the ramifications of all the hidden tax and fees costs. We spent circa €100,000 on these charges. - D.W.
