Expert Group
- Architecture, Surveying, Project Management and Construction - whether you require a 'condition' survey, a Valuation on a property you are buying, planning permission for improvements you are contemplating, costings for an extension or a full 'design and build' service, we can arrange an 'on site' meeting or put you in direct touch with the expert concerned with a minimum of fuss and delay. A free initial consultation is usually possible.
- Mortgage and Loan Finance - our international brokers offer impartial advice and attractive terms from principal lenders tailored to your own personal requirements and circumstances. Loans for periods of up to 20 years and for up to 80% of purchase price or valuation may be denomin ated in one of several major currencies and secured against the French property. Currently interest rates can start at under 6%. Our brokers will liaise with the notaire and agent on your behalf on all matters relating to a loan and explain everything to you as it happens. A specialised service is available for expatriates.
- Legal matters - when buying a property in France, there are often considerations to take into account apart from the transaction itself. The advisability of making 'complementary' English and French wills, whether to set up an 'SCI ' (whereby ownership of the property vests in a company rather than with an individual, useful where French inheritance and tax laws are likely to prove onerous), or an explanation of a particular legal procedure, are the kinds of issues on which clients frequently seek independent advice. We can introduce you to highly skilled practitioners offering an initial consultation at nominal cost.
- Financial Planning - pensions, personal investment & taxation - having purchased a property, one of the first matters to consider before making a permanent move to France is how you will be taxed. France has a comprehensive and very different tax system from, for example, the UK, and it is essential to get advice as early as possible. Our qualified professionals can help you make a 'soft landing' in France by proposing the best form of investment and by setting up a sound tax structure for you.
- Insurance - every conceivable requirement can be catered for by our brokers both in the UK and France. So whether you are looking for a quotation for house insurance, cover for your car, travel and personal accident protection, private health insurance, life or any other form of assurance, our brokers are there to provide you with impartial advice and a first-rate choice of policies to suit your needs.
- Accounting - increasingly in a complex fiscal world, ordinary people are finding that friendly professional advice from an internationally experienced accountant is as much a necessity as an annual checkup at the dentist ! Our expert advisor is qualified to help whatever your needs and wherever resident, including expatriates working abroad. So whether you are unsure of the tax laws governing rental income on your property, are thinking about setting up a small business, want information about 'off-shore' investment, or are simply having difficulty completing your tax return, our adviser will help you.
- Landscaping and garden planning/maintenance - Landscaping and garden planning/maintenance - we are particularly pleased to offer clients access to one of the most experienced landscape specialists in the region. A site meeting can be arranged to enable an assessment of the situation to be made and a full discussion of your requirements to take place. Anything from minor tree surgery to large site development working in collaboration with accredited builders can be arranged.
Advice on setting up a small business in France - if you've ever wondered where to go for practical hands-on advice, our resident consultant is almost certainly the person you are looking for. Having personally established a thriving business in France, he will be able to provide you with down-to-earth information about the processes involved and how to cope with the bureaucracy!
Language Tuition - nervous about communicating with the locals in your rusty French ? We have the perfect solution tailored one-to-one or small group tuition for beginners upwards in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Our qualified resident French teacher will rapidly assess your level and prepare a timetable to suit you.
Pest Control in Existing & New Buildings - increasingly local authorities in villages & towns in southern France are becoming concerned at the rapid increase in reported cases of infestation by wood-boring insects, particularly termites which can undermine the structure of a building with little or no external evidence - until the roof caves in! Our qualified expert can inspect your property and offer professional advice on preventative and curative solutions.