Renovating in France - French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED

Rosie Ellis and Sue Peake-Russell (30+ years combined French renovation experience!)
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  • Home & Garden

Renovating in France - French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED is your honest, no-fluff guide to buying and renovating French property - and living to tell the tale! Whether you're a first-time buyer dreaming of doing up a rural French ruin, a seasoned renovator deep in the dust and chaos, or an entrepreneur planning to turn your French property into a gîte, chambre d'hôtes, wedding venue or retreat - you'll find real stories, insider tips, and actionable advice here to help you avoid costly mistakes and navigate your French renovation journey with confidence (and a healthy dose of humour!). We cover the topics that YouTube channels and TV shows like Escape to the Chateau and A Place in the Sun don't - or won't: French planning laws, building permits and mairie requirements How to find and manage reliable French artisans Renovation budgets, real costs and why DIY isn't always the saving you think French property diagnostics, DPE energy ratings and what they mean for buyers The French buying process - compromis de vente, vice cachée, notaires and more Insurance, decennale guarantees and your legal obligations as a property owner Living on site during a renovation (yes, really) Turning your renovation into a business - gîtes, tax, SCI, micro-entreprise and exit strategies The realities of working with French tradespeople - devis, deposits and travail au noir The reality behind YouTube château renovation channels What renovation reality TV gets wrong (and why it could cost you dearly if you follow their lead) We also bring in the experts - estate agents with 40 years in the French market, accountants, interior architects, and business consultants who've seen it all and aren't afraid to say so. Hosted by Rosie Ellis and Sue Peake-Russell, two women with over 30 years of combined French renovation experience, who run trade businesses in Brittany and the Gers respectively. In earlier episodes (1–16), they're joined by founding host Micala Wilkins, whose background in providing back-office support for her husband's electrical business and marketing for trades in general, brought a brilliant additional perspective to the show. Expect honest advice, plenty of laughs, and more than a few WTF moments. Get more French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED! Subscribe on your favourite listening app and find downloadable guides for each episode, plus our newsletter, at frenchrenodiaries.com. Join the community on Facebook and Instagram.

  1. Is buying a chateau in France really worth it? The good, the bad and the ugly truth, with GoGo Chateau's Morgan Lawley

    3d ago

    Is buying a chateau in France really worth it? The good, the bad and the ugly truth, with GoGo Chateau's Morgan Lawley

    French chateau renovation is a *thing* - and in many cases, filming it for YouTube is too. On the surface, it looks like the dream lifestyle. But is it? In this episode, Rosie and Sue meet Morgan Lawley, an American entrepreneur, former music video director and the creator behind GoGo Chateau - one of the most entertaining chateau renovation YouTube channels out there. And they were NOT disappointed... For a written summary of the episode, along with a mini glossary of terms used in the show, head to the French Reno Diaries website and look for episode #20. What we talk about: Morgan's extraordinary backstory: from LA Laker girl to Janet Jackson music videosHow Morgan found her chateau - and why she bought it without even seeing it The reality of chateau renovation costs in FranceFinding tradespeople in France as a non-French speaker The isolation of rural FranceYouTube chateau renovation - the business model and the mean comments Ghosts, creepy basements, and the ever present spirit of Henri Latour Advice for anyone thinking of buying a chateau in FranceResources mentioned: GoGo Chateau on YouTubeGoGo Chateau on InstagramGoGo Chateau on TikTokStephanie Jarvis / The Chateau Diaries 🪟 Special offer for French Reno Diaries listeners: Renovating in France and need new windows or doors? Haute Gamme Fenêtre is offering a 7% discount to the first listeners who order made-to-measure replacement windows and/or doors through either S.R. Charpenterie (Sue's company, based in the Gers) or Maison Bretagne (Rosie's company, in Brittany). Quote FRENCHRENO7 when you get in touch. Connect: Facebook | Instagram | website frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    1h 15m
  2. Before you turn your French renovation into a business - the taxes, the costs and the exit strategy, with Lisa Clapisson

    Jun 16

    Before you turn your French renovation into a business - the taxes, the costs and the exit strategy, with Lisa Clapisson

    Thinking about buying a property in France and turning it into a business, such as a chambre d'hôtes, gîte complex, wedding venue or retreat centre? In this episode, we hear from Lisa Clapisson, a former French accountant turned business consultant who's spent years helping people navigate the reality of starting a business in France For a detailed summary of the episode, along with a mini glossary of terms used in the show, head to the French Reno Diaries website and look for episode #19. What we talk about: The biggest mistake people make when buying property in France for businessWhy running a gîte business isn't as easy as it used to beWhy running a business as a 'micro entreprise' is often a very bad ideaWhy running a property-based business in France works better as secondary incomeThe retreat business model and why renting a venue might be wiserThe Capital gains tax implications of running a business from your main residenceThe importance of planning an exit strategy for your businessRenovation tax deductions in France - and why artisan invoices are essentialSCI, SARL, holding companies - choosing the right status for your businessThe most common myth about running a business in France 🎁 Exclusive special offer for French Reno Diaries listeners: Haute Gamme Fenêtre is offering a 7% discount to the first customers who order made-to-measure replacement windows and/or doors through either S.R. Charpenterie (Sue's company, based in the Gers) or Maison Bretagne (Rosie's company, in Brittany). Quote FRENCHRENO7 when you get in touch. Resources mentioned: Lisa Clapisson - contact Lisa via her website www.abcaccounting.fr, and get free advice from Lisa on her YouTube channel and Facebook pageChic et Unique Events - Sue and her business partner, Louisa's wedding planning business, which includes wedding venue business consultancy services. Contact them via the Chic et Unique website, Instagram or Facebook.Connect: Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    52 min
  3. How to design and decorate your French renovation - without wasting money, with Christina Rougerie

    Jun 2

    How to design and decorate your French renovation - without wasting money, with Christina Rougerie

    Ever wondered why your beautifully renovated French property isn't getting the rental return you expected? Or why sourcing affordable decor in France feels so much harder than it should? Brittany-based, American-born interior architect Christina Rougerie reveals all in conversation with Sue and Rosie. For a detailed summary of the episode, along with a mini glossary of terms used in the show, head to the French Reno Diaries website and look for episode #18. What we talk about: Interior architect vs interior decorator in France French interior design vs AmericanCommon French property renovation mistakes expats make Renovation for rental and resale in FranceThe mid-market decor gap in FranceDecorating on a budget in FranceFrench-style interior designLighting, layout and colour: essential interior design principles Why anthracite grey (RAL 7016) on everything needs to stop! Resources mentioned: Christina Rougerie Design Instagram: @christina_perez_rougerieLa Redoute / AM.PM Maison du Monde Cdiscount Lights.ie Plum Living 🎁 Exclusive Plum Living offer for French Reno Diaries listeners Use the code FRENCHPLUM5 to receive 5 free samples - you just pay €3.50 towards postage. We earn a small commission on orders placed with this code, which helps keep the podcast going. Thank you for your support! Connect: Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    1h 10m
  4. Don't buy that French ruin until you've listened to this — with veteran estate agent Dan Newton

    May 12

    Don't buy that French ruin until you've listened to this — with veteran estate agent Dan Newton

    Thinking of buying a renovation property in France? Before you fall in love with a ruin on the internet, you might want to hear what someone who's been selling French property for 40 years has to say. Dan Newton - director and co-founder of Agence Newton, the first British person to hold a full real estate licence in Brittany, and the voice behind the popular French Estate Agent YouTube channel - joins Rosie and Sue for a frank, fascinating conversation. From budgeting realities and DPE ratings to 'vice cachée' claims and unlicensed property finders, this one is packed with things you didn't know you needed to know. For a detailed summary of the episode, along with a mini glossary of terms used in the show, head to the French Reno Diaries website and look for episode #17. What we talk about: Why two thirds of buyers walk away once they get proper renovation quotes.Whether flipping property works in France (spoiler: not really) and the official status that exists if you want to try.Location, location, location - why where you buy isn't just about where you want to live. DPE ratings explained - what they mean for buyers, sellers, holiday lets and long-term rentals, and why old stone houses are often unfairly penalised.The French buying process from start to finish - why the three-month silence is normal and what the 'compromis de vente' actually protects you from.Vice cachée - what it actually means legally, and why it's becoming the latest fashion in buyer complaints.Why property finders may need a licence too - and what to check before using one.AI-generated property adverts and unregulated property portals - what's legal and what isn't.Dan's rant: why he'd like to see full structural surveys introduced into the French buying process.The ghosting problem - and why it goes both ways between agents and buyers.Resources mentioned: Agence Newton — Dan's estate agency, specialising in English-speaking buyers in west and central France.The French Estate Agent on YouTube — Dan's YouTube channel, full of essential advice for buyers.French Homes for Sale — Dan's Facebook group, open to private sellers and registered agents; 55,000 members.Connect: Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    1h 30m
  5. Living on site while renovating in France - how to survive the dust, the chaos and each other

    Apr 28

    Living on site while renovating in France - how to survive the dust, the chaos and each other

    Wooden pallets for a bed. A family flannel. A toilet that froze solid. A husband sleeping next to the Rayburn all winter so it didn't go out. Nobody's Instagram feed is showing you this - but Rosie, Sue and Micala are! In this episode, all three hosts share their own living-on-site stories, and they've asked listeners to do the same. The results are equal parts hilarious, grim and genuinely inspiring. Expect to come away knowing how to make living on site work - without getting burnt out, destroying your relationship, or going without a wash! Resources mentioned: Renovations in France — the Facebook group where listener comments were gathered for this episode.A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle — referenced by a listener as the root cause of many a French renovation pipe dream.Mini glossary: Fosse septique — a septic tank; the standard wastewater treatment system in rural France where mains drainage is unavailable.Ratafia — a sweet, fortified fruit liqueur traditional to several French regions, often made by local farmers.Rayburn — a range cooker that also provides central heating and hot water; popular in older rural properties but notoriously demanding to keep running.Franglais — a casual mix of French and English, often used by anglophones living in France when their vocabulary runs out.Lieu-dit — an informal place name used to identify a hamlet or locality in rural France, often used as an address where no street number exists. Connect: Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    44 min
  6. Rants & Bants! (The one where the London brain meets rural France)

    Apr 14

    Rants & Bants! (The one where the London brain meets rural France)

    Micala's back - and there's lots to chew over! In this episode: a Facebook post about deposits that had Micala seething before 4am, the growing crackdown on cash-in-hand work in France, and a very public social media post from some new arrivals that raised more than a few eyebrows. Plus, working from home in your pyjamas, the French social system defended, and a lovely shout-out from a well-respected voice in the renovating-in-France community. Resources mentioned: Renovations in France — Professional tradesman, Peter Gerrit's well-regarded Facebook group.Fix Radio — UK radio station and podcast for the trades, referenced during the episode.CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) — the French family allowance fund that provides housing and other support. Mini glossary: Devis — a formal written quote that, once signed, forms a binding contract. Should always include payment terms.Travail au noir — cash-in-hand work that is undeclared to French tax and social charge authorities. Both the worker and the person employing them can face serious penalties.BTP (Bâtiment et Travaux Publics) — the construction and public works sector; one of the top three sectors targeted by French anti-fraud authorities.Cotisations sociales — social charges paid by businesses and workers in France, funding healthcare, pensions, unemployment benefit and more.CAF — the French family allowance fund, providing housing aid, apprenticeship support and other benefits.Mairie — the town hall; local planning and governance authority. Connect: Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    41 min
  7. Rants & Bants! (The one where we consider doing Bulgarian Reno Diaries)

    Mar 31

    Rants & Bants! (The one where we consider doing Bulgarian Reno Diaries)

    What do a Bulgarian holiday from hell, a suspicious YouTube arrangement, the rise of eco villages, and an 18% energy bill discount have in common? They're all on the menu in this 'Rants and Bants' episode of French Reno Diaries, brought to you by Rosie and Sue (Micala is off doing charity work - more on that soon). Resources mentioned: A New Life in the Sun - C4 series following people starting new lives across Europe.Le Manoir Cachet, Merdrignac - a beautifully renovated manoir in Brittany.Label Energy - the green energy supplier Sue mentions as a good alternative to EDF.Mini glossary: Lotissement - a planned housing development where a plot of land is divided up and individual plots sold for self-build. Often referred to as a pavillon lotissement when the houses built are pavillons (standard new-build houses).Pavillon - a modern, detached new-build house, typically fairly modest in size and style.Pompe à chaleur - an air source or ground source heat pump; a popular and government-subsidised heating system in France. Has been the subject of some mis-selling scandals.Mairie - the town hall; the local administrative body responsible for planning permissions and local governance.Maison de maître - a large, elegant townhouse or manor house, typically 19th century, associated with the professional or merchant classes.Maison de caractère - an estate agent term for a property with distinctive, original period features. Connect: Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    35 min
  8. Do you really need a project manager for your French renovation?

    Mar 24

    Do you really need a project manager for your French renovation?

    Think you can save money by managing your own renovation project in France? You might want to listen to this first. In this episode, Rosie and Sue (Micala is off running a fundraising event - more on that next time) get into the detail on project management: what a professional project manager actually does, what it costs, the legal framework you need to understand as a homeowner in France, and the red flags to watch out for when hiring one. Frank, practical and - as ever - unfiltered. For a detailed summary of everything discussed in this episode, go to www.frenchrenodiaries.com. Resources mentioned: Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat - the body responsible for artisan accreditation in France.URSSAF - the organisation that collects social charges from artisans and businesses in France; issues the attestation de vigilance.French Reno Diaries - How to be a good client - referenced during the episode and well worth a listen if you're thinking about managing your own renovation projectMini glossary: Maître d'ouvrage - the project owner; legally remains the homeowner even when a project manager is hired.Maître d'œuvre - the project manager; contracted to coordinate and oversee works on the owner's behalf.Devis - a formal written quote from an artisan, which becomes the contract once signed.Décennale - compulsory ten-year structural liability insurance required of all artisans in France.Attestation de vigilance - a certificate from URSSAF confirming an artisan is up to date with their social charge declarations.ERP (Établissement Recevant du Public) - classification for any building open to the public, triggering specific fire, safety and accessibility regulations.Gîte - a self-catering holiday rental. Chambre d'hôtes - a bed and breakfast.Connect: Facebook | Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

    57 min
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Renovating in France - French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED is your honest, no-fluff guide to buying and renovating French property - and living to tell the tale! Whether you're a first-time buyer dreaming of doing up a rural French ruin, a seasoned renovator deep in the dust and chaos, or an entrepreneur planning to turn your French property into a gîte, chambre d'hôtes, wedding venue or retreat - you'll find real stories, insider tips, and actionable advice here to help you avoid costly mistakes and navigate your French renovation journey with confidence (and a healthy dose of humour!). We cover the topics that YouTube channels and TV shows like Escape to the Chateau and A Place in the Sun don't - or won't: French planning laws, building permits and mairie requirements How to find and manage reliable French artisans Renovation budgets, real costs and why DIY isn't always the saving you think French property diagnostics, DPE energy ratings and what they mean for buyers The French buying process - compromis de vente, vice cachée, notaires and more Insurance, decennale guarantees and your legal obligations as a property owner Living on site during a renovation (yes, really) Turning your renovation into a business - gîtes, tax, SCI, micro-entreprise and exit strategies The realities of working with French tradespeople - devis, deposits and travail au noir The reality behind YouTube château renovation channels What renovation reality TV gets wrong (and why it could cost you dearly if you follow their lead) We also bring in the experts - estate agents with 40 years in the French market, accountants, interior architects, and business consultants who've seen it all and aren't afraid to say so. Hosted by Rosie Ellis and Sue Peake-Russell, two women with over 30 years of combined French renovation experience, who run trade businesses in Brittany and the Gers respectively. In earlier episodes (1–16), they're joined by founding host Micala Wilkins, whose background in providing back-office support for her husband's electrical business and marketing for trades in general, brought a brilliant additional perspective to the show. Expect honest advice, plenty of laughs, and more than a few WTF moments. Get more French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED! Subscribe on your favourite listening app and find downloadable guides for each episode, plus our newsletter, at frenchrenodiaries.com. Join the community on Facebook and Instagram.

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