Social media and Alpine Property

February 10, 2012

We have been upgrading our web presence. It started with the development of a mobile compatible website.

m.alpine-property.com 

We had been approached by various people offering us iphone and Android apps. We decided a mobile optimised website would be a good idea. It would mean that people looking for property in the Alps could access all our information on their mobile phones when they are out in the Alps, we could make the website download much quicker and reduce their roaming charges at the same time. Because it’s not an “App” it won’t go out of date or need downloading, we could also make it do just what we wanted to.

this links to the mobile optimised website for alpine property

Many of our customers already try and view our website on their mobile phones. We were aware that it wasn’t a great experience. Now when you go to Alpine Property on your phone you’ll go automatically to the mobile site.

Scan this QR code with your mobile and you’ll be taken straight to the mobile webpage.

We’ve also been upgrading our “social” credentials on the internet, by improving our Linkedin profiles, you can access mine from this link Go to my linkedin prfile or the company profile here Go to my linkedin prfile.

The same goes for Facebook, we have a Facebook page , this will [obviously] be used for promoting the “social” side of our life in the French Alps!

We’ve have a twitter feed for a while 

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Posted by Gareth

Starting a Chalet Business in the Alps, Pt. 2

February 3, 2012

 

This is part 2, the first part is here:

working in a ski resort

 

  1. Get some experience in chalet work.

    This does seem obvious but many people don’t. For some reason they place finding the property higher up the list. When you have some experience of the industry then you’ll be in a better position to determine what you want from your property! It’s fairly straight forward finding work in the chalet business. There are plenty of companies looking for chalet staff. Primarily over the summer but also around January too (replacing the “fallout” from the beginning of the season). You’ll probably be provided with some training and you’ll be able to learn from your mistakes (and those of the company you are working for). A word of advice on this subject. Don’t get a job with an independent chalet operator in the town you want to set up you business in, then attempt to “steal” some of their existing clients and then set up your own business in the same village! It happens, fairly frequently and it’s not nice!

  2. Choose your ski resort.

    You might have already done this. In fact you might decide that your clientel will be much like yourself, will enjoy the same type of skiing and ski resort at your self and so this will be straightforward. Though maybe you’d like to get off the beaten track and introduce skiers to something new! That sounds like a risky business to me. Much easier to stick with an established market. It might be tempting to think that there are some resorts that will offer better value for money when it comes to buying a property. I’m not sure that this is the case. In general the property prices reflect the popularity of a resort and the length of season, so the more expensive resorts probably are more popular, have longer seasons and enable you to charge more for the holidays.

  3. Do your business plan, to be continued.
  4. Choose your property.

    Most people assume they will be buying their first property. This is fine. For years I have said that the real winners in the chalet business are the owners of the properties. That was over the period 2000 until about 2008 and was down to the large increase in capital value of the properties. If you don’t have enough money to buy a property then renting is the next best thing. Bear in mind that the big tour operators all rent their properties. It offers flexibility, they can increase or decrease their stock of property relatively quickly and they don’t have to have an enormous amount of capital tied up. Finding a property is easy after a bad season, their will be a few operators winding up their operations or downsizing but you’ll need to be “on site”, finding a property to rent in the Alps is virtually impossible via the internet!

  5. Find your customers, to be continued.


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Posted by Gareth

Starting a Chalet Business in the Alps

January 27, 2012

I used to get asked this question twice a week.

“How do I start a chalet business in the Alps?”

I think 2005/6 was the peak. Everyone wanted to move to the Alps, sometimes it was 1 in 3 of the enquiries we received . I have learnt over time that the question should really be phased a bit better. Perhaps:

“how can I make a living in the Alps?”

would be more appropriate. The thing is that most people that have gone skiing have witnessed at first hand a chalet business. The holiday cost them €600 so the embryonic business plan started over the dinner table.

€600 x 10 people staying in the chalet = €6,000

€6,000 x 16 weeks for the season = €96,000

Obviously you need a chalet, there are the usual bills, food and linen to pay for too but surely there is a fair living to be made? And that’s not including the summer business. Right, sign me up, where do I start?

Alpine Property Team Meal 2011

Well I’ve been there. Although I now make my living from my full time job with Alpine Property I’ve also worked a couple of winter seasons, I’ve run a chalet business (mostly summer based) for 10 years and now I live in the Alps with my wife and 3 children. Surely living proof that it’s a good idea? Well “Yes” and “No”. I’m now going to give my advice. Feel free to take it with a pinch of salt!

My first bit of advice is “don’t do it”. Well don’t start the chalet business that is. Living in the Alps is a great idea! Have a look at your skills, can you carry them over to the Alps and keep working? That’s a possibility? And it might be better in the long term. There are plenty of people that live in the Alps and make a living here or based from here. These are the trades I know of:

Accountants, #pilots, #lawyers, journalists, IT experts, various consultants and #project managers, guides (walking / biking / climbing), ski instructors, electricians, carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, builders, bankers (in Geneva), doctors, nurses, #engineers, estate agents, interior designers, graphic designers, photographers, artists, writers, teachers, taxi drivers, hotels owners and hospitality workers….

The professions marked as # generally work away from home and use the Alps as a base. There are bound to be more, these are just the ones I know personally.

So if you don’t feel that you can carry over your current skills and you still think running a chalet is the way forward then hang on! You’ll have to wait until next week for the “how to” section.

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Posted by Gareth

Ski de Fond Praz de Lys

December 13, 2011

More cross country skiing pictures here.

The 8 yr old pictured here is about to start with the biathlon club in Les Gets

I sometimes get asked about where is the best place to go cross country skiing. More often than not someone wants to tag it onto a downhill ski holiday. Though I suspect more and more people will be trying “ski de fond” in the future.  The answer is that it depends on where you are staying. In Morzine and Les Gets there are ski de fond tracks but they can be quite steep in places. Not great for beginners. If you are staying in these resorts or over in Samoens one of the best options is to drive to Praz de Lys. It’s not far and worth it for the snow-sure flat trails.

The drive from Les Gets is about 15 min. As you arrive on the plateau you’ll see the parking, the small shed is the “kiosk” that sells day tickets and across the road is the ski hire.

http://g.co/maps/2kd53 

If you would like instruction then I suggest a call to arrange it in advance with the ESF .

Further afield and the best resort is Le Grand Bornand, in fact it is world class. They had intended to hold a round of the world cup here. Unfortunately they cancelled it a couple of weeks before hand as they had no snow. The reality is that I am writing this 3 days before the intended start date and we have one of the best snow forecasts we have seen for a long time!

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Posted by Gareth

Winter activities in Les Carroz

February 1, 2011

WINTER ACTIVITIES IN LES CARROZ IN THE GRAND MASSIF

By Liz Owens

During the ski season, every Monday there’s a FREE concert in the square in the early evening with a welcome mulled wine or hot chocolate offered by the tourist office, whilst you watch the impressive torchlit descent down my favourite red run of all time, the Timalets, that can be seen floodlit from the motorway down in the valley.

Every Tuesday there’s a FREE introduction to ski joering, which entails being pulled along on your skis by a horse, for those who dare! Every Wednesday a FREE ‘luge en bande’ trial, that’s a number of individual sledges joined together to form a long train that weaves down the slopes, driven by an experienced guide – it is hysterical but can result in the odd bruise! Then on Thursdays there’s the exhilarating airboard trial, also FREE, which involves sliding down the slopes on a huge inflatable mattress!


Les Carroz is currently hosting its spectacular annual Hot Air Balloon festival. This is its 18th Year! Weather permitting, every morning 20 balloons take off from the village for the flight of your life! The views are breathtaking and the flight can last up to 3 hours.

On 1st February, there’s the 5th ‘Montee de la Kedeuze‘, a nighttime race on skis up to the top of the telecabine from the village! Not for the faint hearted! 150 eager participants head off up the steep ascent with a height change of 670m! Only for the seriously fit! The winner does it in about 30 minutes! The hard work is rewarded with a bowl of tartiflette at the prize giving back in the village. Well worth watching if not taking part!

The 6th March is apparently International Women’s Day and Les Carroz doesn’t forget this. The day is full of surprises, presents and promotions just for the ladies (over 18). A FREE Massif (120km) day’s pass is offered with every purchase of another full priced pass. There’s free ski instruction for the ladies, a man hunt on the slopes and even a rose for the 1st 100 ladies!!!

This is just a snapshot of what’s on offer in Les Carroz this winter.

See www.lescarroz.com for more detailed information on this resort.

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Posted by Gareth

Interior Design and Furnishing in the Alps

January 15, 2011

Have you ever dreamed of owning that warm, cosy alpine chalet, designed with comfort and style in mind. For many buyers of property abroad one of the biggest questions is how do you furnish and equip a property without the local knowledge and language of retailers and suppliers. How do you organise and coordinate deliveries and installations on site.

Make Space Designs is an interior design and furnishing company creating interior solutions for commercial and domestic clients in need of this type of service throughout the Haute Savoie region of France. Liz Ockelton – MAKE SPACE DESIGNS (www.makespacedesigns.com) is based in the alpine village of Chatel with her husband and two children providing a full furnishing and bespoke design service for clients looking to purchase property and make a second home or build a business.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Husband, Ed Ockelton www.alpine-property.com focuses on selling property from new build apartments through to large chalets renovations and re sale chalets throughout the French Alps. Clients looking to buy abroad are looking for help and guidance from local contacts who can assist in all stages from purchasing through to the full furnishing of a property to make the process as hassle free as possible.

Liz works alongside professional trade contacts and an established soft furnishing company who work throughout France in order to provide a personal and bespoke service for domestic and leisure clients creating traditional chalet interiors through to a more modern take on the alpine style.

Projects range from equipping a small ski apartment through to the full design and furnishing of luxury 6 bed roomed chalets. A full kit list of items is prepared down to the finer details of snow clearing equipment, heated boot warmers and all the interior detailing, bespoke soft furnishings and artwork. Chalets projects are taken on for clients looking to run their property as a professional luxury catered chalet or as a private home.

MAKE SPACE DESIGNS guarantee a personal service, quick sampling, prepared quotations, and beautiful fabrics in a wide range of styles, colours and textures along with very competitive prices. Prices include installation on site and personal contact throughout the project.

Living in the mountains provides a dynamic and stimulating environment in which to create interesting and inspiring spaces to live and work. Our services range from sourcing products, placing orders, budget management, organising and scheduling deliveries through to the final installation and styling of your project on site.

The design service is tailored to each individual clients needs to help interpret and focus the ideas for the project, helping to establish the direction you want to take in terms of budget, timescale, vision and design. Ideas are presented as visual research images, along with a selection of materials, colours, textures, furnishings and product specifications along with any sketches or detailed design drawings needed to manufacture a particular item or feature.

For further information or a detailed quotation please go to

info@makespacedesigns.com or contact Liz Ockelton MAKESPACEDESIGNS.COM – MOB: 0033 675 762 793

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Posted by Gareth

Selling Costs

November 26, 2010

We are often asked about how much it costs to sell a property in France. The answer is fairly straightforward. I’ll illustrate it with a (hypothetical) example, taken from our website, of an individual chalet.

Chalet les Pommiers

Chalet les Pommiers
Price 595 000 €uros
http://www.alpine-property.com/index.php?page=prop_1_pommiers

We have a sliding scale of fees that are available on our website at

http://www.alpine-property.com/index.php?page=page22&lang=en

So for this chalet it would be a 5% commission, we’ll have to add TVA to this so the relevant figure for the seller is 5.98%. This will leave

559,419 euros for the (hypothetical) seller.

There will also be various surveys that will have to have been undertaken.

Energy / Asbestos and Lead / Electrical integrity, together these bills will amount to about 500 euros

Leaving 558,919 euros for the seller.

From this any capital gain will need to be calculated. If this is a primary residence then there will be no CGT to pay. If this is a secondary home then CGT will need to be calculated, the French government have a method of making sure this payment is not avoided! If the seller is not resident in France he will need to take this into account, if the property is sold for more than 150,000 euros (as in this case) the French government will want a guarantee that the CGT liability will be paid, in practice this guarantee is offered by a third party Tax Representative (example: SARF), their fee would normally be 1% of the amount realised by the seller. So in all cases where the seller is not resident in France (even if there has not been a Capital Gain in the value of the property), count on another 1% fee. which will leave:

553,330 euros for the seller.

You’ll see that I have not mentioned any legal fees, these are paid for by the buyer.

Update: October 2011. There have been some changes to the CGT situation in France. The SARF have got a handy calculator to help

http://www.sarf.fr/PVLTN2011.php


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Posted by Gareth

Le Fayet near St Gervais

October 30, 2010

Le Fayet is part of St Gervais commune and has the famous Thermal spa’s located there. There is also a small train station and a few shops/restaurants and it has easy motorway access. It is located on the valley floor, so not really at what you would consider “altitude”. The drive from there to St Gervais and the ski lifts takes around 8 minutes (5km) up the mountain road.

Le Fayet is fine in itself; though outside of the thermal baths not particularly attractive or charming. There are a couple of hotels located there which bus clients up to the lifts but are mostly used for people doing long stays at the thermal baths. There have been recent renovations of the buildings and pavements which has helped smarten it up. However it does have more industries surrounding it.

It’s fair to say, St Gervais and Les Contamines are the tourist spots and located at altitude (850-1100m). Both have lift station for skiing (in the centre of the village for St Gervais) as well as easy access to mountain paths and nature. And, they are surrounded by the local attractions: horse riding, ice rinks, swimming pools, lakes and rock climbing. The villages themselves have a lot of charm and are surrounded by cute mountain hamlets.

If your plan is to purchase a property for renting out to holidaymakers, then I would not suggest buying in Le Fayet. Holidaymakers much prefer to be in St Gervais in the mountains. This is essentially why Le Fayet area is a little bit cheaper as it’s not considered a ski or holiday resort but a normal French town. If you are purchasing something just for yourselves and you don’t mind the short drive to the lifts or nature/facilities then Le Fayet is certainly a slightly cheaper area in which to look in.

Below is a google image from the motorway of Le Fayet with the mountains behind and St Gervais’ location shown, though not visible.

To view pictures of St Gervais have a look at this website which shows images from the village as well as 360 images of the valley area and gives more details about the town.

http://www.evasion74.com/Placestovisit.htm

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Posted by Gareth

How do I get a rental return on my property?

September 3, 2010

Virtually all the properties we sell are sold freehold (accept the Lease-back development in Avoriaz) and there will not be any restrictions on sub-letting, in fact gaining a rental return is entirely normal.

As far as renting via an agency is concerned there are many to choose from in each town and many methods. Much of what I have written below is Morzine biased, this is where I work!Studio apartment walking distance from the lift in Praz sur Arly

There are a number rental options, each with advantages and disadvantages. They are not all available to all properties! I will list them as I see them. The first offers lowest risk for least return, the balance moves from return to risk as you descend the list!

1. You can choose to rent your apartment on a yearly basis, for a fixed fee to a company that specialises in self-catering holidays. You an negotiate some weeks for yourself or you can negotiate a discount for weeks you want to rent.

Example: Alptitude, a specialist in Morzine

http://www.alptitude.com/index.php?page=page0&season=winter&lang=en

Example: Holiday in the Alps a specialist in St Gervais
http://www.holidayinalps.com/

Advantages:

  • Most secure form of rental return
  • If you choose the tenant carefully they will look after the property well, dealing with maintenance issues, taxes, Internet etc.
  • Minimum input from the owner

Disadvantages

  • Offers the lowest returns
  • Property will need to be in a good location, this type of company will see that as a priority.

2. You can use one of the independent chalet operators in the area, they often have one chalet that they cater and then up to a dozen they arrange as self-catering. This type of company will often try to negotiate a percentage  fee (up to 30%), for this they will arrange the booking, key holding and the cleaning etc.

Example: The Great Escape

http://www.thegreatescapemorzine.co.uk/accommodation-morzine.htm

Example: Mountain Highs

http://www.mountainhighs.co.uk/SelfCateredHoliday.htm

Example: Snow and Trek

http://snowandtrek-morzine.com/self-catered/index.php

Example: Ski Fusion (based in Les Carroz)
http://www.skifusion.co.uk/

Advantages

  • There may be the occasional unbooked week that could be used by the owner for a cheap holiday at the last-minute.
  • More flexibility for booking in friends etc.
  • If there are good bookings this can offer better returns than choice 1

Disadvantages

  • Riskier for the owner as they don’t offer any rental guarantees, this risk can be reduced by choosing an established company.

3. You can use an Internet based agent who will handle all the booking and cleaning, in theory for a lower percentage fee (about 20%)

Example: White Peak a specialist in Chatel
http://www.white-peak.com/

Example: Alps Accommodation a specialist in Samoens. http://www.alpsaccommodation.com/

Holiday Lettings has lots of advice on the subject. http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/resources/owner_advice/a-1/

http://www.morzinelets.com/

http://www.skiweekends.com/pages/resorts/morzine.aspx?ResortID=13

http://www.independentmountain.com/

http://www.alplets.com/

Advantages

  • There may be the occasional unbooked week that could be used by the owner for a cheap holiday at the last-minute.
  • More flexibility for booking in friends etc.
  • If there are good bookings this can offer better returns than choice 2
  • Internet based administration can be convenient

Disadvantages

  • Riskier for the owner as they don’t offer any rental guarantees, this risk can be reduced by choosing an established company.
  • If the agency does not care about your property the wear and tear can be quite high. This can depend on their clientèle too.
  • Choose your Internet based agent carefully, they can be excellent but there is more room here for cowboys.

A duplex apartment in a chalet with views of ski slopes and Mont Blanc.

4. You could use an Internet based “Bulletin Board”, these businesses charge a fee for you to advertise, you handle the booking and arrange cleaning and key holding via a local person or agency. My Mum uses Owners Direct for a property on the outskirts of Morzine, it costs £200 or so to advertise, she does very well and uses a local girl for the cleaning etc. This method is a lot of work for the her, offers the renter no guarantees (they can’t book with a credit card and the owner has no form of bonding) but can give the best returns.

Examples:

http://www.chaletfinder.co.uk/

http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/

Advantages

  • There may be the occasional unbooked week that could be used by the owner for a cheap holiday at the last minute.
  • More flexibility for booking in friends etc.
  • If there are good bookings this can offer better returns than choice 3
  • More “hands on” can be more fun and it may give the owner the chance to “vet” the occupiers.

Disadvantages

  • Riskier for the owner as there are no rental guarantees.
  • The owner will have to find local people to deal with the changeovers / cleaning and any problems.
  • If there are problems or damage the owner might be called upon to arbitrate, this can be difficult on the phone!

A 2 bedroom apartment on the ski bus route close to the pistes

5. The traditional method, use one of the local French estate agents or the local Tourist Information Bureau , they will take a fee (about 25%) and handle the bookings and cleaning for you. This should probably be put between 2 and 3 in the income VS risk list.

Advantages

  • An established system, will probably be entirely legal.
  • Local agents normally have very good contacts with local tradesmen.
  • You may find that a particular agent will have an affiliation with a particular apartment block, this can help.

Disadvantages

  • No guarantees though, the owner will take all the risk. You will do better in the best locations. You might get nothing in a bad location!
  • Just because the agent has good contacts with local tradesmen it does not mean any maintenance work will come cheap.
  • Choose wisely, not all agents are fully Internet or email aware yet, this can come as a shock.

Confused? You shouldn’t be. I am just illustrating how this is a very mature market and that there are a lot of options open to you.

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Posted by Gareth

New Risk Prevention Plan approved in Chamonix

April 10, 2010

Chamonix chalets and snow

After a two-year long public enquiry, a new set of rules for risk prevention in the Chamonix valley has finally been passed, though local planning authorities had been using the “unofficial” version of the document in anticipation for the last two years. So-called “natural risks” are a very sensitive issue in Chamonix, especially since the 1999 Montroc avalanche in which 12 people died and a large part of the hamlet was flattened by a giant snow slide. There are in total 110 avalanches couloirs all around Chamonix.

The novelty is the creation of “yellow” areas in addition to the traditional white/blue/red zones. Presently there are 900 buildings in blue or red areas where special dispositions apply, either in terms of building  regulations (e.g. new constructions of reconstruction of existing houses is not allowed in red zones) or for the possible evacuation of inhabitants in the event of a threat of natural disaster. The white/blue/red system was based on the likelyhood of natural catastrophes which had historically occured at least once in a hundred years, known as “risque centenaire”, for events such as avalanches, landslides or flash floods.

Yellow zones cover areas where there is a suspicion of very ancient avalanches, up to 300 years ago. No special building regulations have been designed for these areas of Chamonix but authorities are required to put in place evacuation plans, should the risk materialise. In all, 1,700 constructions (chalets, farms etc.)  are located in such areas.

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Posted by jcskiera

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