Um, we're buying a creepy chalet...
Discussion
So, this year, we are realising a long-held dream and buying a place in France. It is a little outside a ski resort, as I don't want to live in a town, and cheaper as a result, bit still 10 minutes drive to the ski lift weights use most mornings when there.
It also hasn't been meaningfully worked on in over 30 years, so whilst habitable, will need work. And candidly, it looks a little creepy, inside and out. The sort of place that a horror movie could be set.
Strangely, it reminds us of Lady F's parents place on a lake in the US, which we both love, despite (or perhaps because of) it's primitive and aged vibe.
Luckily, it is in an area where I have both done multiple ski seasons, and know lots of people who live there permanently. One owns the building company that have maintained this place and done small repairs for the last decade, and his view was that the building is fundamentally sound, watertight, habitable and fine. It just needs renovation, but not as an immediate project.
I'm pretty happy with this. Price was good, it has 200m2 (2200 squarevfeet or so) habitable right now, plus a full-sized open attic, and ground floor has its own entrance, so could easily be a 1 bed, 1 living room, 1 bath flat that sleeps up to four. Remaining habitable areas have 3 beds, bath and separate loo, and a lovely, quaint living area on the first floor. We could go into the roof one day (if necessary) and create more space. Don't need it now - this is not to rent, it's for us and a few friends to use.
Electric wall heaters probably need replacing:
electrics could use a proper upgrade:
single glazed windows need replacing too, and insulation would be nice (it's E on the energy efficiency scale. I honestly thought it would be a G).
A couple have been replaced with double glazing, and i know the people that did the work. It's good.
Frankly, this is all for years hence. For the moment I need to do up a loo, bathroom and small kitchen to make them a lot less rustic. But they all work. And downstairs apartment bit has a far better loo/shower setup so usable whilst we do other stuff.
It has had planning permission for a double garage with terrace on top to one side (parking is plentiful but outdoors, so can't keep a car there right now). One day I'd like to keep a cheap electric vehicle on winter tyres under cover out there, on charge. EV as I only need it for short trips, no fuel to freeze, and pre-heating is a nice thing in winter.
Very exciting! I may use this thread as an on-and-off diary. Right now, about to sign the compromis, and then cracking on with admin like setting up a French tax account and finding insurance.
Sellers are Brits, and seem very nice. We are meeting them in person, soon, as we have offered to bring bits back from them from our first trip out there, as well will take the car. A sad reason for sale, due to a health issue, so we are trying to be sensitive and helpful.
All experiences, hints, caveats, welcome! This is our first property abroad...we wanted to do it whilst the kids were young, thus normalising being in the Alps for them. I suspect that they will.live it now, but trying to persuade teenagers away from London to go here would have been tougher wreck they not used to it already. So we went with something cheap, rough and ready, rather than waiting until we could save up for something really smart.
ETA - Admins, I managed to spell "Um" as "Un" in the thread title. Any chance of undoing my incompetence, pretty please?
It also hasn't been meaningfully worked on in over 30 years, so whilst habitable, will need work. And candidly, it looks a little creepy, inside and out. The sort of place that a horror movie could be set.
Strangely, it reminds us of Lady F's parents place on a lake in the US, which we both love, despite (or perhaps because of) it's primitive and aged vibe.
Luckily, it is in an area where I have both done multiple ski seasons, and know lots of people who live there permanently. One owns the building company that have maintained this place and done small repairs for the last decade, and his view was that the building is fundamentally sound, watertight, habitable and fine. It just needs renovation, but not as an immediate project.
I'm pretty happy with this. Price was good, it has 200m2 (2200 squarevfeet or so) habitable right now, plus a full-sized open attic, and ground floor has its own entrance, so could easily be a 1 bed, 1 living room, 1 bath flat that sleeps up to four. Remaining habitable areas have 3 beds, bath and separate loo, and a lovely, quaint living area on the first floor. We could go into the roof one day (if necessary) and create more space. Don't need it now - this is not to rent, it's for us and a few friends to use.
Electric wall heaters probably need replacing:
electrics could use a proper upgrade:
single glazed windows need replacing too, and insulation would be nice (it's E on the energy efficiency scale. I honestly thought it would be a G).
A couple have been replaced with double glazing, and i know the people that did the work. It's good.
Frankly, this is all for years hence. For the moment I need to do up a loo, bathroom and small kitchen to make them a lot less rustic. But they all work. And downstairs apartment bit has a far better loo/shower setup so usable whilst we do other stuff.
It has had planning permission for a double garage with terrace on top to one side (parking is plentiful but outdoors, so can't keep a car there right now). One day I'd like to keep a cheap electric vehicle on winter tyres under cover out there, on charge. EV as I only need it for short trips, no fuel to freeze, and pre-heating is a nice thing in winter.
Very exciting! I may use this thread as an on-and-off diary. Right now, about to sign the compromis, and then cracking on with admin like setting up a French tax account and finding insurance.
Sellers are Brits, and seem very nice. We are meeting them in person, soon, as we have offered to bring bits back from them from our first trip out there, as well will take the car. A sad reason for sale, due to a health issue, so we are trying to be sensitive and helpful.
All experiences, hints, caveats, welcome! This is our first property abroad...we wanted to do it whilst the kids were young, thus normalising being in the Alps for them. I suspect that they will.live it now, but trying to persuade teenagers away from London to go here would have been tougher wreck they not used to it already. So we went with something cheap, rough and ready, rather than waiting until we could save up for something really smart.
ETA - Admins, I managed to spell "Um" as "Un" in the thread title. Any chance of undoing my incompetence, pretty please?
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 12th May 11:17
It will be a much slower thread - on the last projects, I've smashed the work out in months. We won't even do much to this for at least a year: a key is living with it and working out what is wrong, first. Probably more of an "owning a place in France" diary, and a slow one at that. But I appreciate the sentiment - thank you!
More pics coming. Its a state. Not as bad as our place in London was, but still not great. That said, whatever we do, we want to keep its frenchness. No sleek marble and grey paint here. Think more natural stone, tiles, and wood.
PS thanks admins, for correcting the thread title
More pics coming. Its a state. Not as bad as our place in London was, but still not great. That said, whatever we do, we want to keep its frenchness. No sleek marble and grey paint here. Think more natural stone, tiles, and wood.
PS thanks admins, for correcting the thread title
You should start a PH Homeowners Association in the town, seems to be quite a few there now.
My son finishes school in June 2026 and is looking to spend a year there as his main interests are skiing and MTB'ing, so if you need any slave labour, he's available.
Will be following with interest. Good luck with it all.
My son finishes school in June 2026 and is looking to spend a year there as his main interests are skiing and MTB'ing, so if you need any slave labour, he's available.
Will be following with interest. Good luck with it all.
Very interesting, I will be watching the thread with interest.
My wife and I are seriously considering an apartment in the Portes du Soleil area.
We go every year and always stay in an Airbnb chalet, but it would be nice to stay a bit longer and have another trip in the summer.
I hadn't considered something a little further out, we obviously always have our car with us anyway. Perhaps there is more square footage to be had for the same price if we look on the outskirts.
What ski area are you near?
My wife and I are seriously considering an apartment in the Portes du Soleil area.
We go every year and always stay in an Airbnb chalet, but it would be nice to stay a bit longer and have another trip in the summer.
I hadn't considered something a little further out, we obviously always have our car with us anyway. Perhaps there is more square footage to be had for the same price if we look on the outskirts.
What ski area are you near?
Great stuff! How does it work when you need to drive to the lifts every morning? Does it get super busy? What about when there has been a big dump, do the roads open before the lifts?
Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
Craikeybaby said:
Great stuff! How does it work when you need to drive to the lifts every morning? Does it get super busy? What about when there has been a big dump, do the roads open before the lifts?
Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
Once the initial excitement wears off having your own place and spending longer periods there means the rush to be up and out is less urgent. If you are going for two weeks a year you will naturally be eager to ski all hours and weathers - if you are going much more often you can pick and choose. Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
Craikeybaby said:
Great stuff! How does it work when you need to drive to the lifts every morning? Does it get super busy? What about when there has been a big dump, do the roads open before the lifts?
Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
It does get busy but generally as long as you are parked up by 9:30 you are OK (in a peak week, off peak is generally fine any time). The roads are generally well plowed so the kids can get to school and a car with decent snow tyres shouldn't have too much of an issue.Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
Edited by NorthDave on Monday 12th May 12:57
andyb28 said:
Very interesting, I will be watching the thread with interest.
My wife and I are seriously considering an apartment in the Portes du Soleil area.
We go every year and always stay in an Airbnb chalet, but it would be nice to stay a bit longer and have another trip in the summer.
I hadn't considered something a little further out, we obviously always have our car with us anyway. Perhaps there is more square footage to be had for the same price if we look on the outskirts.
What ski area are you near?
Hi all, thanks for the comments.My wife and I are seriously considering an apartment in the Portes du Soleil area.
We go every year and always stay in an Airbnb chalet, but it would be nice to stay a bit longer and have another trip in the summer.
I hadn't considered something a little further out, we obviously always have our car with us anyway. Perhaps there is more square footage to be had for the same price if we look on the outskirts.
What ski area are you near?
Andy, the house is just outside Montriond, so we access the area at Ardent, or Prodains, which is used when I need to get the kids to ski school. When we want the Les Gets side, I drive to Nyon and ski from there - we spent a season living on that road, and the home run back to the car park is a joy . Driving distances are small in the PdS, unless you want to get in at Chatel or the Swiss side.
I also can see us using St Jean d'Aulps more as the children grow - its gorgeous and great for them to learn on and get more confident. This gets us much of the way towards that, as well.
Ideal spot would have been very near Lac d'Ardent for summer stuff, and it's not far, but it is still a drive rather than a walk.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 12th May 13:16
Craikeybaby said:
Great stuff! How does it work when you need to drive to the lifts every morning? Does it get super busy? What about when there has been a big dump, do the roads open before the lifts?
Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
I've always driven to the lifts, never had an issue! I have had 4x4s whilst out there, on snow tyres. That is massive overkill - roads and car parks are ploughed, any car in snow tyres is fine.Having spent most of my childhood holidays in a "rustic" house in France I think this will be great - although I'm sure my kids would disagree...
Bon chance!
Here's Lady F next to my commuter vehicle, during my first season in '13-14. That was a great powder day...
We have to be out early as kids go to childminder or ski school, so that's never been an issue (i.e. there us always parking). We ski anything between 20-30 days a season anyway, most of them there, so thought that we may as well get a place and enjoy summers too!
Worst comes to the worst, I can drive to my mate's house in Central Morzine, park at his and take a lift up!
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 12th May 13:15
Let's start with some EA photos that are very, very flattering...kitchen.
Main living room. It is very charming, even in real life.
All of that was in the first floor. Below is the ground floor apartment, also in OK nick. However, the second floor, where the main accommodation is, is scary.
Apartment bedroom
Apartment living room/second bedroom
Apartment bathroom
Main living room. It is very charming, even in real life.
All of that was in the first floor. Below is the ground floor apartment, also in OK nick. However, the second floor, where the main accommodation is, is scary.
Apartment bedroom
Apartment living room/second bedroom
Apartment bathroom
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 12th May 13:30
ClaphamGT3 said:
Looks fantastic Harry and a similar condition to our place in the Dordogne when we bought it - habitable but 'old person chic'.
PM me if you want any insights on renovating properties in rural France
Are you still local in London? Buy you a glass and chat/advice? You'll recall that we have met before (mutual non PH friends - Will and Alex; but be aware i haven't yet told my "home" friends as for various reasons, i don't want family involved yet.PM me if you want any insights on renovating properties in rural France
ukwill said:
It screams Money Pit to me. But sounds like you're up for a challenge so best of luck!
It could well be. But it was cheap (relatively), and whilst electricity bills will be horrible, it's only for short holidays and cheaper than renting. The rest of it will eat a lot of money, but only if we renovate all at once - which we won't. Quietly optimistic it isn't a total basket case as an acquaintance (whom i know quite well) is the person who has been working on it doing repairs etc for the last decade.First step is to upgrade electrics. Next is to buy some cheap, WiFi controlled oil filled electric rads for remote heating capability, so house isn't totally freezing in winter when we arrive.
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