Works · Repairs · French firms · Owners living abroad

Pre-works assistance in Brittany

Clarify your intended use, objectives, budget and constraints before consulting contractors. Receive a clear brief and a comparison of proposals to make an informed decision.

Preparing works from abroad involves unfamiliar documents and conversations in French. I help organise the information and consultation before construction starts, with explanations and written findings in English.

What I do

• Gather the facts about the house that tradespeople need to quote, and pass on your request in French.
• Choose with you which two or three local firms to consult, meet them on site and get their quotes.
• Read the quotes with you in plain English: what is included, what is missing, what differs. You choose and sign directly with the firm.
• Clarify the scope of the quotes, exclusions, assumptions, timeframes and questions to resolve before signing.
• Prepare a comparative summary to support your choice of contractor. You make the decision and contract directly.
• Keep everything in your property file: quotes, invoices, guarantees, photos and decisions.

Typical jobs

Roof and gutter repairs, windows and doors, insulation, heating, bathroom or kitchen refits, septic tank work, fences and gardens, pool and spa, getting a house ready to sell or to rent, repairs after a storm or a leak. From a few weeks to twelve months.

A clear role

Each contractor is responsible for their own proposal and works. Pre-works assistance ends before construction starts and excludes design, site visits during works, construction management, supervision and acceptance. Any required specialist design, studies or site supervision must be separately commissioned. I take no commission.