Clé France

Hello David,

We have without doubt had a good experience with everyone at Cle France from beginning to end including your agents on the ground and those who also helped us along the way with Foreign Currency, Insuring our new house and legal advice.  

We feel we received the best service and advice from everyone but especially from you and Sharon as you helped us get the ball rolling!

Nothing was too small a matter and your response to any concern we had was immediate which saved us a lot of headaches. Cle France made the whole experience less daunting than it might otherwise have been. You offer an exemplary service for which we can only congratulate you.  

We are delighted with our purchase. It only took one visit to find the right property. Everything in total took only three months to complete.  

We would have no hesitation in coming back to Cle France for any future purchases or sales we might make as we know that not only are you at Cle France dependable but you are also very nice people and a pleasure to know. 

Dean and I would both like to extend our thanks to you and Sharon for all the support you gave us throughout the process it helped ease us into a life that we had long been thinking of.

Your continued success is well deserved and we wish you lots of it in 2015.

Only thing left to say is HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Our very best wishes

Dean & Jacqui.

GEN UP ON GENDARMES - 

1. Never laugh at them especially at motor-way pay barriers no matter what size their moustaches are.

2. If they call to check your papers at home always offer them a coffee but never the Calvados your friendly farmer sold you for 5 euros a litre – this is strictly illegal and they'll ask you for its origin.

3. When stopped at a road check always say ''yes'' when asked if you are ''en vacance''. They will then wave you on with good wishes.

4. When calling at the Gendamerie to report an incident or to get help, raising your voice in the hope they'll understand English is not a good idea.

5. Always call a gendarme 'Monsieur' or even 'Monsieur l'Inspector', flattery seems to work.

6. Always let the lady in the car do the talking if at all possible and always smile sweetly – that too works wonders.

7. Always carry your passport and driving licence with you and keep your car documents in the car – although they seldom understand them the production on demand creates a good impression.

8. If you are stopped by the police do not mention your friend the local gendarme. They don't like each other – the police don't have the power of the gendarmes and there's always a certain amount of jealousy.

9. If your neighbour is the local senator or similar dignitary, it's always worth mentioning his name if you are having a contretemps – they are very susceptible to 'who you know'.

10. If you do need help don't ever hesitate to ask a gendarme – they are actually very helpful.

BON CHANCE.

Fraser Blake, 70, author of 'Dear Chips' and 'A Rant Too Far?' grew up in Africa, was at school in Scotland, and worked for the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia. He has taught English in Saudi Arabia and sold and renovated hundreds of properties in Northern France.

In 1998 Fraser was selling houses in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so was the obvious choice, when Cle France was started, to be their first agent on the ground in France. In retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats.

Always on hand with a viewpoint, Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British, and other people who buy in France. Sometimes informative, sometimes funny, painfully true, outrageously opinionated but always entertaining so we hope it adds a slightly different dimension to the usual normality of searching through the fantastic properties for sale on the Cle France website.

If you want more? then follow the links above where you can buy Fraser's published books.

We would certainly not have had the confidence to go through such a complicated process (in French) without the support, information and translation services provided through the Cle France network. From start to finish there was always someone to help, either on the phone, by email or in person and we are very grateful to David, Sharon and Valerie for all their support.

We are very happy with our new house and are most impressed with the area. Thanks to their advice we now have a number of English speaking contacts to help with future requirements.

We believe Cle France is an excellent organisation which we would recommend to anyone wishing to purchase a house in France.

Regards, G and M.

Buying a property in France does not have to be a dream or a daunting task, with the right team of professionals to advise you on everything from the right region of France for you, through the entire buying process and beyond with help settling-in the process from dream to reality can be as smooth as you like!

If you are going on a viewing trip to France soon, no matter what region of France you visit, you need to know how to read your French Estate agent, so here we take a light-hearted look at body language:

Will the Frenchman do a deal?

1. One shrug – won't accept your offer.

2. Huff and puff – maybe he'll accept your price.

3. Throws hands in the air and walks away – he believes the house is being 'given' away.

4. If he keeps smiling – keep haggling.

5. If he speaks English to you – it means he feels confident and will drive a hard bargain.

6. Beware the hard sell – the boring 5 minute repetitive sales pitch, just give one word answers.

7. Despite what they say, the French are not yet politically correct - But flirt with his wife and the price will go up. Take your beautiful daughter and he'll be in a good mood.

8. The French usually have two dogs – the big guard dog and the little lap dog. If he brings the former, expect a difficult purchase with little haggling. On the other hand you may well save yourself a bob or two if you show you like his dog.

9. If they don't shake hands – they don't want you to have their house.

10. Get the kissing right – two touches on each cheek is good for Normandy. You should try and be on this kissing basis before the deal is struck!

Good luck and watch for the signs! 

Fraser Blake, 70, author of 'Dear Chips' and 'A Rant Too Far?' grew up in Africa, was at school in Scotland, and worked for the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia. He has taught English in Saudi Arabia and sold and renovated hundreds of properties in Northern France.

In 1998 Fraser was selling houses in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so was the obvious choice, when Cle France was started, to be their first agent on the ground in France. In retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats.

Always on hand with a viewpoint, Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British, and other people who buy in France. Sometimes informative, sometimes funny, painfully true, outrageously opinionated but always entertaining so we hope it adds a slightly different dimension to the usual normality of searching through the fantastic properties for sale on the Cle France website.

If you want more? then follow the links above where you can buy Fraser's published books.

BAGNOLES DE L'ORNE in the Orne Department of Lower Normandy - 

Bagnoles (as it is generally known) is one of the gems of France. Not only is it a beautiful town, but as its name hints, it's a spa town. People congregate from all over Europe from spring to autumn to ''take the waters'' for all manner of ailments.

Situated in the Bocage area of Normandy and surrounded by the considerable forest of the Andaines, it is a holiday area par excellence. With all its leisure activities it is an ideal venue vacance. There is a small but delightful 9 hole golf course, one of the original one's in France, pony trekking through the forest, swimming, both indoor and outdoor tennis, fishing and horse riding to name but a few.

For those who like quieter activities there's a bridge club, slide shows, a cinema, a theatre, regular live jazz evenings, painting and design courses and even a mushroom picking and cooking weekend in September. This includes instruction on which are good and which are not and a thorough inspection of everything you've picked by an expert – just to be sure!

The night life lacks for nothing either. There are first class hotels and restaurants where the evening meal is turned into an art form and most at quite affordable prices. There's a casino which includes ballroom dancing, a disco pub, and a restaurant. And, of course, there's the now famous festival ''Au pays de Lancelot du Lac'' which retells the Arthurian legend by way of exhibitions, concerts and live spectacles throughout lower Normandy.

Finally, it has to be said that Bagnoles is not only a beautiful and rather special town, but it's surrounded by masterpieces such as the Châteaux d'O, Lassay les Chateaux, Sassy and Carrouges. If that was not enough the cathedrals of Sens, Saint Ceneri, Notre dame sur l'Eau and Lonlay are absolutely marvellous and all within easy reach.

Read more about Bagnoles de l'Orne from a previous blog by David at Cle France here...

Property for sale in Bagnoles de l'Orne.

Fraser Blake, 70, author of 'Dear Chips' and 'A Rant Too Far?' grew up in Africa, was at school in Scotland, and worked for the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia. He has taught English in Saudi Arabia and sold and renovated hundreds of properties in Northern France.

In 1998 Fraser was selling houses in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so was the obvious choice, when Cle France was started, to be their first agent on the ground in France. In retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats.

Always on hand with a viewpoint, Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British, and other people who buy in France. Sometimes informative, sometimes funny, painfully true, outrageously opinionated but always entertaining so we hope it adds a slightly different dimension to the usual normality of searching through the fantastic properties for sale on the Cle France website.

If you want more? then follow the links above where you can buy Fraser's published books.