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Property Maintenance Services Charente France

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Your French Holiday Home Garden . . . or is it the beast?

‘Congratulations!’  

So, you have now acquired your French holiday home let in La Charente.  But, it requires a list of internal and external building works as well as modernisation and painting and decorating before you can bring your property to the French holiday let market.  So, what to do first?  What is the main priority in your lengthy ‘To Do’ list of work?  The ‘Garden.  

The garden is an important marketing feature, especially for guests looking to eat ‘Al Fresco’ in a well-maintained garden whilst drinking fine French wine beside a crystal-clear water swimming pool. But, unlike building works and painting and decorating, which can be rapid to carry out and complete, a garden takes time to plant, mature and to establish in order to portray that homely welcoming quality to appeal to guests. Indeed, some old English and heavily scented Damask roses – a favourite amongst English holiday guests – may take two years to flower, if bought cost-effectively as bare root in Autumn. Trees and shrubs also may take two to three years before making an impact on the landscape so as to reveal their true colours and glory.  Nature may be a difficult business partner to rush in your buy-to-let investment.

You may take the approach to ‘buy-in’ mature plants and trees to speed up the process in bringing your gîte to the holiday let market.  Although this may appear to be advantageous, there are several disadvantages.  The main disadvantage is the effect the approach will have on your property’s yield and your return on investment.  Paying more for less may reduce your holiday let yield.  Although an attractive garden is an important feature in enticing prospective guests, it may not substantially increase the property’s return or capital gain.  Further, there is the consideration of loss and waste.   Buying young plants or bare root roses may minimalise loss as the plants will become accustomed to their new environment.  In turn, waste is avoided and the likelihood of reaching a mature garden cost-effectively is increased.  The financial loss of garden plants can be considerable if careful planning and preparation is not carried out.  Moreover, it may be a hidden loss as the gradual disappearance of plants may be unnoticeable.  The replacement of plants will reduce your return and property yield.  Therefore, factor in the replacement of plants in your property maintenance services to help assess an accurate return on your holiday let investment.

Remember . . .

Stay on top of the garden, particularly during the growing months.  Nature is always waiting to reclaim her space!


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French Property Holiday Home but non-Resident Charente Gîte Owner?

Being a non-Resident French holiday home and gîte owner in the Charente may be profitable not only in high season, but throughout the year.  However, to yield the rentable income from your French holiday home, it is necessary to exercise regular property maintenance and to carry out repairs. Naturally, undertaking property maintenance and repair to your French home holiday may become challenging if you are non-Resident in France.  Moreover, in recent years, due to the changing climate, the Charente region has experienced strong winds and regular storms during the winter months which require regular property checks to ensure that property damage has not occurred which may be detrimental to your gîte rental income.  If you have a property manager, then it would be prudent to request weekly property check visits with video footage and a property check report sent to you for peace of mind.  In addition, winter wet weather tends to create a smell of dampness, if holiday home properties have been sealed by shutters and are not regularly aired. Therefore, a weekly visit from your property manager would also ensure that your French home holiday is opened up once a week.  

As a holiday let owner, you are probably already aware of the importance of planning ahead for the holiday season.  If you do not have the latest photographs of your French holiday home for marketing, then ask your property manager to attend the property on a bright sunny day for a photo-shoot in order that the photographs may be uploaded in good time to the gîte booking websites. 

Another important annual maintenance task to carry out in early March will be your French holiday home garden.  Any camellias and magnolia grandiflora in the garden will require a Sequestrene plant feed to prevent the yellowing of leaves which may not be attractive to potential guests seeking a gîte rental.

Although the winter weather may seem to give the impression that the high season is months away, the month of March is a busy month for the French holiday home let market.  

Do not get left behind – contact your property manager today with a list of to do tasks!

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Property Management Services – Charente Weather Alert

Property Management Services in Adverse Weather Conditions for Week Starting Monday 26 February 2018

La Charente is currently experiencing extreme day time temperatures ranging from 0°C to -4°C, although the real feel temperature will range from -6°C to -11°C.  However, together with the wind chill factor, the overnight temperature may be as low as a real feel of -20°C for the earlier part of this week.

Wednesday 28 February 2018 may bring the potential for heavy snow.  Consider access to and from your property and plan ahead for snow clearance and laying grit and salt to avoid slips and falls of staying guests and occupiers.

 

Gîte Property Management Check List

If you have an unattended gîte or holiday home in La Charente area, then ensure that your property is protected from this week’s weather damage.

Taps

  • Turn off the water to any outside garden taps.  If it is not possible to turn off the water, then lag the tap with insulation material.

Solar Lights

  • Remove and store garden solar lighting and solar-powered water pumps.

Plants, Shrubs and Trees

  • Remove terracotta plant pots and containers from outside spaces and store in a sheltered place.  If the pots and containers cannot be moved, then protect with insulation material.
  • Young plants, delicate shrubs and ornamental trees should be covered with winter fleece, breathable weed matting or warm plant jackets.  Alternatives may be bubble and straw to protect the tops of plants.

Wooden Shutters and Gates

  • Check wooden window shutters are closed to protect window panes
  • Check that the wooden window shutters are not swollen pushing against hinges
  • Check for swollen wood on gates preventing entry and exit from the property

 

Remember to avoid or to minimize any loss.  If you cannot take steps to protect your property from this week’s adverse weather conditions, then contact your property manager or arrange for an emergency property check.

 

 

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Swimming Pools . . .

When is a Swimming Pool not a Swimming Pool . . .
When it is green!

“Pool care“, you may say?  But, surprisingly, there is little difference between a green swimming pool and a blue swimming pool.

“What then”, I hear you say, “is the difference?”

Algae

If your swimming pool has turned a distinct shade of green, then it is likely to have been overwhelmed by this tiny little terror who could drain the profits from your gîte and bank account as quickly as pulling the plug!

So, what is the cure?

Your pool may requiring cleaning at least once a day, depending on the severity of the algae build-up.  Be prepared to clean your swimming pool up to four times per day, if the water is so green that you cannot see the bottom.  Obviously, this may not be practical if your guests are in occupation and, more worrisome, if they have paid for use of your swimming pool.

Where to begin

Clean all the debris from the pool.  Add your ‘Chemical Shock’ Chlorine, daily and remember to regularly check the PH levels.  An optimum PH level should be between 7.2 and 7.6.  Once again, ensure to check the pool’s PH level each day.

Be prepared to wait between four to five days before any improvement can be seen following the shock treatment.   During this watchful waiting period, backwash your filtration system three to four times daily, rinsing for about 10 seconds before going back onto filter.  Carry out this action frequently while the pool is being cleaned.

In addition, completely scrub the swimming pool surround as algae is inclined to stick to the pool liner.  Moreover, it is important to thoroughly clean the pool’s surround to prevent slips and falls due to slippery algae encroachment and to prevent any potential claims.

Hoovering 

Slowly vacuum clean the bottom of your pool.  If you vacuum too quickly, then you may stir-up the debris which may reduce cleanliness and allow algae to proliferate.

Filtration

If after this period of time, and despite your meticulous efforts, the pool stubbornly remains green, then we suggest that you check your filtration system.  Your filtration system requires regular attention with a twice per week clean when the pool is in normal use.

Still Green!

Many cultures consider green to be unlucky, and it is certainly unlucky if the green algae inhabiting your swimming pool starts you to suffer financial loss!

Sand.  When was the last time your swimming pool’s sand was changed?  The sand may have come to the end of its filtering life, if it has managed to be overwhelmed by algae.  Therefore, be prepared to change the sand.  Remember to make a note of the sand change date in order to be better prepared to carry out your next sand change in five to seven years’ time outside of the high season.

Prevent is better than cure . . .

Swimming pools attract guests, guests represent revenue.

Your holiday home or gîte is a business, and all property-based businesses require ongoing maintenance whether due to wear and tear or environmental conditions.  Ask your property manager to undertake a regular pool care maintenance programme to avoid loss of revenue and loss of quality accommodation status.

Good luck with your pool!