How to Prepare to Move to France

Mar 02. 2022

You’ve made the decision to move to France and are in the process of finding the perfect property to start your new life on the continent. There are a lot of factors to take into account to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible. Here’s a few tips and things to bear in mind when it comes to finding the right property and planning the move:

Have the finances ready
It’s worth registering with a currency exchange company quite early on in the process. It means that you’ll have time to research which company to use and benefit from making savings on the transfer process. Using a bank for an international money transfer can be more expensive as they charge transfer fees. Explore the options with currency companies as they can offer you a money saving alternative. Registering with them early on, will also mean that if you have everything in place, it will be easier to arrange a deposit transfer once you’ve found your perfect property.

Know the boundaries
Clarify any issues concerning the boundaries of the property early on with the agent. You’ll need to know if there are any public rights of way, for example. If the property includes outside space such as a woodland, there are sometimes stipulations that mean the area is your responsibility to maintain.

Check the pipes are flowing freely
When viewing rural properties in France, it’s important to check if the property is connected to local water and sewerage services. If this isn’t the case, check out whether the property has a water supply of its own and also a septic tank. Ascertain if it’s well maintained. It’s important to find out the state of play with the plumbing and water supply prior to purchasing the property.

Wired for sound
Investigate the mains services at the property so that you are aware of running costs. You’ll also need to be aware of whether the property is served with an internet connection, the strength of the internet signal and the possibility of installing WiFi. If the internet is a requirement but can’t be accessed via the conventional routes, then this could prove to be problematic. It maybe that, for example, you can access the internet via satellite but this will incur a cost and would need scoping out. It’s worth consulting the property agent on this to find out what arrangements the existing owners have and then do some research in to the local area to see what the options are.

Bring in the professionals
If you’re viewing a property that needs renovation work and you’d like to take a builder or architect with you, just mention this to the owner and make them aware of what you want to do and they should be happy for you to do this.

Removals to France
Once you’ve found your perfect property, it’s best to research a reputable and experienced removal company and start a dialogue with them. Now that the UK has left the EU, it means that there are increased rigours for the movement of household goods and vehicles to and from France. It’s now more important than ever to appoint a professional mover to help guide you through the maze.