More Learning about French House Buying.

...and learning about ourselves in the process.
Where to begin?
All this house stuff is pretty exhausting, to be honest. I cant say that I am sleeping well, because I have a gazillion things running around in my head at the same time, and I'm trying to think of all the issues we need to attend to which can affect the trajectory of the rest of our lives. Yes, truly!

I'm sitting here with half an eye on the program Grand Designs. This makes us laugh as these rock piles that people make into stunning homes is something akin to what we have been considering ourselves. We wish! lol
Like our search for the right-for-us boat, this house search over the past two years has progressed from what we think we might like to live in, to the thing that we actually end up with. They might not necessarily be the same thing. The practicality of what we think we want vs what we really need to have, is surprising.
We are in our 60's so we dont have the wherewithal to do some of the physical things we would like to do, and if you ask Waz, he will say he still has it, but over my dead body will he be getting up ladders, after hearing from the realtor about a client of his who fell off the ladder, and had a personality change, resulting in a divorce. We dont want to go there, so he will stay off those ladders, unless I am there holding the bottom of it, or we have scaffolding firmly planted.
The mind is willing and able but the body is much less so.

So, off we went first thing this morning to the Notaire. She is a trained Lawyer, and a Solicitor vs Barrister. For those unfamiliar with this system, a Barrister does court work, vs the Solicitor who does everything not involving Court work. This includes but by no means limited to, Real Estate conveyancing.
This lady was recommended to us by friends who used her services, and we were very happy to have spoken to her. She gave us an hour without charge. Of course she will get the job of conveying our property for us. She will also get the job of doing our 'simple' French Will.
Yes, another subject that I will cover later...or remind me if I dont!

It was snowing when we set out, this morning. Putting the tarp over the windshield last night was inspired, if I say so myself:)

It made for a quicker getaway this morning, requiring only one kettle full of warm water to de-ice the far side of the car.
Our Notaire works in the nearby village of Villebois Lavalette (vee bwa, larva let). We were slightly taken aback when we parked in front of this almost ruin. The waiting room was dark when we let ourselves in, and 10 mins later the Notaire and her staff walked in the front door, apologizing and asking for 5 mins to take their coats off. Easily granted, as there were all kinds of books and pamphlets (one in English) that we needed to look at.
Finally in the office and explaining ourselves, passing over the sales sheet from the Realtor of the house we wish to purchase, and getting down to my list of 'things'. Good thing I take notes all the time, and being organized. I do sometimes get a bit off track, but that's what I have Waz for:)

 Yes, it was still snowing when we left the Notaire's, and went home again. We needed a cup of coffee before setting off to meet the realtor at the house, so that I could take photos and we could decide once and for all if we wanted to make an offer . We were most of the way there, but needed to have some questions answered and to check out, again, things we had noticed looking at the realtor's photos. Always a good idea!

A cup of coffee and a cookie...we weren't sure if we would get lunch. We left the house at 11-ish, and returned to the Notaire for her to take copies of Waz's Passport. For some reason he left his brain and his handbag (man bag?) behind when we left the house, the first time...well, yes, this was another reason to make the 10 minute journey home! lol.

That accomplished, we headed out of town towards the N10 going Nth West towards Cognac. 50 mins later we pulled up at the same Bistrot at the  E. Leclerc Supermarche that we went to yesterday and had the Pork Cutlets. Today we opted for an Americaine for Waz...demi-baguette filled with ham and cheese...he enjoyed it! and I chose a crepe with Nutella:) Well you have to do it once, dont you? We ordered a very hot Grand Crème and were again very impressed that we got what we asked for all for the grand price of 8.90 euros. Well done!
No photos today, it wasn't worth getting the camera out, and I didn't want to draw attention to ourselves in this very full lunch time crowded bistrot.

Ok...Lets get down to the important part...the photos of the house!

Dont take fright when you see the wallpaper and the colors, will you. Some of the colors are 'my' kind of colors, however, and those who know me well will chuckle when they see this place.
Most of all, we can see how we will live in this house. It is also offered Turn Key.
Yes, this house comes furnished but for most of the wall art and some personal bits and pieces which have yet to be identified. We are waiting on the agent to organize the reports for Lead, Electrical, Asbestos, Termites, Boiler Servicing and check and a few other things that are essential under French Law.
You dont get a 'survey' unless there is land in question, and you dont get a 'building inspection' unless you as the buyer are prepared to pay around 1500 euros for that. This isn't recommended, because it is very much Buyer Beware, and make sure you look in every nook and cranny, which we did today...mostly!
So, lets get on with the viewing of the property, shall we?

In the middle of winter the land is free draining and no part of the lawn was puggy and muddy. It is slightly sloped which is ideal, and there are views from all parts of the garden, which is wonderful. The hedges need trimming, but that is minor in the scheme of things.
Ok...here goes! Stay with me on this :)

The front gates will need to be motorized. We dont want to be parking and having to exit the car in the rain and cold in the middle of winter, to open them. Minor in Waz's scheme of things, he says. He will have much pleasure sorting this one out:)

 All of the improvements will take time of course, and they dont have to be done all at once. Part of the beauty of the whole thing:) It is immediately habitable in fine enough style, which is fabulous.

Turn right at the entry gates. the front door is to the left of the first pillar. We would make the steps go all the way across the terrace.  It needs a really good power wash, doesn't it!

The front door, looking back at it, opens onto the wide enough front hallway. The door might have to be changed, you think?  Plenty of light though. We like the pale tile floors. So many are dark and brown. Not our favorite color!

Turn around now and this is what you see.

First door on the left is the double length living room with windows at each end. We dont know why there are no windows to the side, as this is the morning sun side of the house, but we might explore a way to include at least one window on that wall. You will see shortly.

The doorway to the right leads hard into the dining room, and then into that bright pink and green kitchen.

The door straight ahead under the stairs leads into the downstairs loo.

This home was built in the 1950's so is relatively new in the scheme of things:) This is France and the piles of rocks I have previously referred to, prevail.

The built-ins are interesting and will stay for the moment. They will be useful.

The stairwell is wider than most, thankfully and there is a window half way up, letting in light.

 The Dining room has 'interesting' wallpaper. The story goes (in regard to the interior design etc) and being shiny, throws the light around. I'm rather hoping she leaves some of the lovely mirrors. Not sure what furniture will be removed, but we have our suspicions that this set might well be.

 The dining room has two windows. One to the terrace outside at the entry (this one) and one on the west side, where the hot afternoon sun will come in. We are thinking to replace this window here with French doors to the terrace. There will, of course, we shutters. We dont like these metal shutters. We will also have to replace the windows with double pane, all throughout the house. This gives us the wonderful opportunity to make holes in walls to put more in! yay!

There is a PINK these throughout the house, as you might have guessed already, lol. One would think that a woman has owned this home...alone.  Some of the furnishings are shabby, but we can see ourselves reclaiming them and restoring them.The windows on this wall would also be replaced with French doors as they open on the back terrace, overlooking the glorious view down the valley over the vines. What a shame not to have the light and the ability to just walk straight out onto the terrace.

 The other end of this room, which we believe was opened up and made into one by the previous to this owner, has two windows. This side of the house doesn't get sunshine, so they could be open all day, all year.
The floors are oak and in fine condition. The lighting leaves much to be desired, but that is something Waz will work on and enjoy.

 The fireplace is fake. There is actually NO chimney here, and the fire box inside is electric. We may keep the space but put in a nicer fire surround. We will see. Any firebox we would put in there would be a wood pellet stove. You can see where the two rooms were opened to become one.

 It makes for a lovely large and open space, which is perfect, especially with those windows made into doors.

 We will lose the book shelf. Hmm....

 This built-in would stay.., behind the door.

Leaving the double living room behind...

 The kitchen is gorgeous! Grossly inadequate, but gorgeous, lol. We will work with it...or not, depending on how it works for us. It is totally workable as is, and is therefore low on the list of need to do's.

 The light coming in that westerly facing window is lovely. Perhaps not in the heat of summer, but we will see.

 The door to the left there, goes down the back stairs to the basement. Not the best placement, but cant be helped without major remodeling, and we dont see the need.

 The window in the stairwell gives much needed light. What we have been trying to avoid, in our search for a home, is the need to turn on lights all the time, because the rooms are dark and a bit 'buried'. Electricity isn't inexpensive in this country, so the more natural light there is, the better. We weren't searching for a more contemporary home, but this is what we have found. We find it best not to be too set on one particular kind of home, as this often leads to disappointment, and you forget to look beyond that and make wonderful discoveries.
Dont worry, the wallpaper probably wont stay. It is peeling off in places. The room certainly makes me smile, and that's a good thing.

 The home owners added a room onto the view side of the house. The back wall of the kitchen, see here on the right with the power point, is the former outside wall, and therefore there thick and immovable. It creates it's own issues and could be very expensive to move, needing a large steel beam to keep the tile roof up. Not essential to daily life.

 They have, however, created these weird rooms. To the left as you leave the kitchen is this fridge room. Doesn't work for us, so the walls would be demolished. We would restructure the cabinets in the kitchen to incorporate the fridge (dont need a freezer in the kitchen) and to create a large pantry alongside on the back wall, where that power point was that I mentioned.

Opposite is the laundry room. Why they would put the dishwasher in here also, is beyond us, but....
We would created a laundry cupboard here and install a sink also. Easy, as there is already water in the room.

 Now we have come through to the new room. Steps lead outside to the lovely terrace with a view over the vines and down into the valley. A bit hard to see that far with the rain, but when that clears and the sun comes out, it will be hard to be anywhere else, we imagine.

 Behind that gorgeous hall stand is a stunning view that someone forgot to put a window in for. We would put a picture window in this space. There is plenty of room for it, and why not enjoy the view.
We anticipate this room being a kind of office/family room. I guess it would be THE space for hanging for the two of us. We might even put a pellet stove in there for winter. It would get pretty toasty. The roof angles up towards the kitchen, which is a benefit for that. (you will see this in the coming photos).

I would also feel inclined to put a window in this wall, but it is the afternoon sun side...we will think on this one.It might be sufficient to have the picture window at the short end.

 The terrace is large. Plenty of room for all meals out here. I wasn't going out in the rain to take more photos, sorry:)

 The view is pretty from here, facing east. Morning sun!

 We were trying to think if we could use the mezzanine, but failed. Not really interested. Just to make a laundry cupboard there instead of the silly room.

 Too many doors!

 Moving upstairs, we have a mirror image (?) of the downstairs hallway, which is nice and wide. There is a linen cupboard just on the right at the top.
There are four large bedrooms and one large bathroom currently. We would perhaps install two more bathrooms...we will see.

 Turning around to look at the light coming through the window facing the outside view.

 Really nice Oak floors everywhere and in stunning condition.
The first bedroom on the left at the top of the stairs. That window faces west.

 Across the hallway is the bathroom, next door to another mirror image bathroom on the view side. more on that one later...

 Moving along the west side of the building, and now facing the road. The window on right faces away from all the sun, but is very light. The window to the left faces west.

 I dont mind the pistachio colored paint, but I have a hard time with Flocked wallpaper, and this color.

At the end of the hallway is a door to the outside terrace overlooking the road and far off views of vines and more valleys in the distance.

 To the right at the top of the stairs is this lovely room. It faces the view out back and over the terrace outside.

 Better view of the sunny bathroom. The window is looking east. The shower stall is large, and there is a handheld shower unit on the bath tub as well.

 The largest room, and known as the Master bedroom has flocked (black?) wallpaper. I cant show you because it has the owners things in it.


Lookin back down the hallway.

Outside, upstairs, is another terrace. We are looking west, here. This was the warmest part of the outside.

 Looking at the view going west

 Lots of gardening to do!

 Another lovely terrace at the entry. Looking down from the 1st floor terrace.

 The view from here is normally lovely.

 Downstairs the footprint is the same as the upstairs. Plenty of storage, workshop and double garage.

 The land is just over a 1/3 of an acre. Perfect for us to keep and mow with a push mower, lol.

Well, that's it, folks.
Time for bed, and we aren't setting the alarm in the morning. There is nowhere we want to be in a hurry.

Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes according to plan.

A Bientot.