How we build, and what is included

Every home on our house and land packages is built the same way, to the same standard, under the same contract. This page sets out exactly what that means, so each listing can get on with telling you about its own plot and its own corner of France.

Fully turnkey, ready to live in

When you collect the keys, the home is complete and ready to move into. There is nothing left to organise and nothing to finish. Included as standard:

• Fully fitted kitchen — units and worktops, oven, hob, extractor fan and dishwasher
• As a special offer on current builds, a fridge-freezer is included
• Fully fitted bathroom — shower and/or bath, vanity unit and basin
• Separate WC
• Flooring throughout
• Interior painting in neutral tones
• All interior doors and finishes
• Full electrical installation
• Full plumbing installation
• Reversible heat pump — heating in winter, cooling in summer
• Thermodynamic hot water system — a high-efficiency water heater that draws warmth from the surrounding air, using up to around 70% less energy than a conventional electric heater
• Mechanical ventilation system (VMC)
• Double-glazed windows and doors throughout
• Electric roller shutters on all windows
• Driveway and parking area
• Full utility connections — water, electricity, telecoms and drainage
• Site cleared and clean on handover

Where a package includes an integrated garage, that is stated on the listing.

Built to the highest standards, fully protected

Every home we build is constructed under a CCMI, the Contrat de Construction de Maison Individuelle, France's most powerful consumer-protection contract for new builds. Your price is fixed and legally binding from the day you sign, with no variations and no surprises, and you pay in stages only as the work is completed and verified.

Every home is covered by Dommages-Ouvrage ten-year structural insurance. If anything structural were to go wrong within ten years, it is put right immediately, without you having to prove fault or go through the courts.

And every home is built to France's RE2020 energy standard, the most demanding in Europe, and carries a DPE energy rating of A, the highest in France. In practice this means a home that is beautifully insulated and extraordinarily cheap to run: typical heating costs are just €30 to €35 per month, all year round.

Notaire fees

Notaire fees apply to the land purchase only. There are no notaire fees on the construction, which is one of the reasons a new build works out cheaper than an existing property of the same value. The figure for each plot is shown on its own listing.

Why new build?

Unlike an older property, there are no hidden problems waiting to become your expense. No rewiring, no replumbing, no damp, no ageing septic tank, no tired roof. Everything is brand new, everything is guaranteed, and everything works from day one.

We have set out the full comparison here, including where an older house still wins — because sometimes it does.

A home to suit you

The packages on this site are examples of what we build. We have a large selection of designs to suit all tastes and budgets, from one-bedroom homes to six-bedroom family houses: bungalows, villas, houses with loft conversions, and fully bespoke designs across Brittany, Normandy and the Vendée. If your plans take you elsewhere in France, talk to us and we will be happy to help.

The layout of any of our homes can be adapted to your wishes. It costs nothing to move a wall on a drawing.

With 36 years of experience and over 1,200 completed projects, we manage the whole journey for you from start to finish, in English, from choosing the plot to handing you the keys.