French renovation projects are notorious for running over budget, over time, and over anyone's patience. We've spent 36 years watching them go wrong — and helping them go right.
"The cost of getting renovation wrong in France isn't just financial. It's the months of stress, the disputed invoices, the work done twice. The right guidance costs far less than the alternative."
What you see is never all there is. Behind old French plaster walls — asbestos, damp, outdated electrics, unsupported beams. What looks like a cosmetic renovation becomes structural work.
Briefing French artisans without speaking the language is where most projects go wrong. Something gets lost in translation — and you pay for it. Twice, sometimes three times.
Finding reliable French tradespeople is hard enough if you live there. From abroad, it's almost impossible. The wrong artisan can set a project back months and cost you thousands.
We assess the property and give you a realistic picture of what needs doing, in what order, and at what cost — before you commit to anything.
A full cost breakdown of your renovation project — materials, labour, unexpected contingency — so your budget is realistic from the start.
36 years of working in France means 36 years of relationships with reliable local artisans — plumbers, electricians, masons, roofers, carpenters.
We help you sequence the work correctly — structural first, then services, then finishes. The right order saves significant money and avoids costly rework.
We visit the site, check the work, and report back to you — in plain English. You don't need to be in France. We are your eyes and ears on the ground.
We advise on what requires planning permission (permis de construire or déclaration préalable) and guide you through the process with the local mairie.
Most buyers budget for what they can see. The roof, the kitchen, the bathrooms. They don't budget for the electrics behind the walls, the damp in the cellar, or the septic system that doesn't meet current regulations. We give you a realistic number before you sign.
Fitting a beautiful kitchen before fixing the roof. Painting walls that will be demolished. Laying floors before the plumbing is done. The correct sequence matters enormously — we make sure yours is right.
France has many excellent tradespeople and some very poor ones. Without local knowledge, it's impossible to tell the difference. We introduce you only to people we trust from years of working with them.
Adding a veranda, converting a barn, changing a roofline — many changes that seem minor require planning permission. Without it, you may be forced to undo the work entirely — as a condition of any future sale.
We start with a 30-minute conversation about your project — what you have, what you want, and what your budget looks like. Honest advice from the first minute.
We visit the property, assess what needs doing, identify the hidden risks, and give you a realistic cost picture — before you commit to the purchase or the renovation.
We plan the work with you — sequence, trades, timeline, budget — and introduce you to the right artisans for each element of the project.
We visit the site regularly, report to you in English, handle any issues with the artisans, and make sure the work is done correctly — whether you're in France or not.
Book a free 30-minute call and we'll give you an honest assessment of what your renovation involves — and what it will really cost. No obligation, no sales pitch.