need for big desks, fi ling cabinets,
and bulky computers is diminishing
at an astonishing rate. Find a quiet
space, preferably with a view over
the countryside, and you have the
perfect work environment.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
Do not write off locations straight
away. I'm lucky to live in Charente,
which has a large number of
picturesque villages that are wellknown
as favourites with tourists.
In 2003 I fell in love with the
riverside town of Jarnac, home to
the beautiful Courvoisier building.
I don't live there, though. My home
for twenty years has been in one of
the nearby towns - not as chocolate
box pretty but way more practical
for what I need.
DON'T JUDGE A BOOK
Beware of the Instagram eff ect. I
worked for ten years as a Buying
Agent in France and know well
that some houses are easy to
photograph and look great online.
The trouble is they don't look so
good in real life. Some properties
are tricky to photograph or may have
had the pictures taken on a grey
day (a mortal sin here at Leggett,
but sometimes unavoidable). One
that springs to mind was marketed
by an agent (not Leggett) who was
creative with their photography.
The path to the front door looked
long and colourful; in real life, it was
fi ve paces and led straight to a busy
road. The opposite can be true; my
point is that it pays to slow down
your scrolling and swiping.
SIGNING THE CONTRACTS
Be prepared to sign electronically. I
would never encourage you to make
rash decisions or sign on the spot.
But be aware that signing contracts
from a distance is a simple process.
Not so long ago, agents used to
march clients into the notaires offi ce
to sign there and then - there's no
need for this now; you don't even
need to be in the same country.
Electronic signatures speed up
the process and off er the same
protections as signing in person.
There you have it, half a dozen ways
to put yourself in the best position
to fi nd something exceptional. But
there's one more thing I would like
to stress. Talk to us. It sounds like a
cliché, but the Leggett team goes
the extra mile to turn your dreams
into reality. We wouldn't have been
voted "Best estate agent in France"
more times than anyone else if we
weren't exceptionally good at it!
15
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When you are looking to fi nance an overseas property,
the exchange rate is absolutely critical to determining
what you will actually receive or pay. The use of a foreign
exchange broker is a vital addition to your overseas dream
team, and LUMON, Leggett's preferred currency partner,
can make you savings against direct bank transfers and
reduce associated charges.
By managing the currency aspect of your property transaction you
can eff ectively maximise your budget and the
extra funds gleaned can, for example, off -set some of the
legal costs to purchasing a home, fi nance that new kitchen
or help you to buy the new car.
LUMON has local bank accounts in France making transfers
easy and can off er assistance with the planning and timing of
any currency exchange transaction. On the security side,
LUMON is in full compliance with EU and UK regulations
meaning you can move money securely at competitive
rates with absolute peace of mind.
The average service length of LUMON's trading team is
14 years meaning you are dealing with knowledgeable
professionals, expert in FX markets and with years of
experience in the French property sector.
to sign there and then - there's no
Jonathan Watson
Associate Director at LUMON
French Property Currency Specialist
HOW TO SAVE MONEY WHEN
FINANCING YOUR PROPERTY