Hey there!
Even I, renowned as I am for a serious allergy to sport, have been caught up in the current sports mania. Okay I don’t actually watch it – that would be going too far – but I have become interested in the fate of Laura Robson, Andy Murray and those vastly overpaid soccer boys. On that subject however, dare I express a wish that Becks was there? It would make watching so much more enjoyable - even I might be tempted to do so…!
Moving on…literally! Chatting to a property expert a few days ago, she was commenting on how enthusiastically the Brits embrace a renovation project. And, in this day and age of concrete monstrosities, sometimes older properties have a very real charm that is hard to resist. This is all reinforced by movies (and I use the word ‘movie’ advisedly - it’s such a Hollywood concept somehow) such as Under the Tuscan Sun that make the whole process one long, romantic adventure…and of course it can be. In Under the Tuscan Sun a series of serendipitous events bring our heroine to a lovely yet dilapidated villa in beautiful Tuscany. Fast forward through a variety of interesting characters - Polish workers, Italian neighbors and an aging British actress - to the inevitable new love in her life…
Sounds great but let’s face it, the whole process usually entails a lot of hard work, more expense than one had at first budgeted for and a number of fraught, stress-inducing experiences along the way.
I have put together a few tips that may just help if you are thinking of going this route:
- One of the reasons often given for buying a renovation project is that it is ‘so much cheaper’ than a home in good condition. Stop right there – is it? And that’s tip 1: always do your sums – before you actually sign on the dotted line. Put together a separate renovation budget and then always factor in additional funding to cover those unexpected costs that almost always raise their ugly heads.
Knowing how much you’re able to spend on the renovation really helps when it comes to choosing a property. If a home needs major structural work and that’s not within your budget, the property may not be right no matter how low the asking price. Always know the full extent of the necessary renovations. Once you know what’s needed, determine the work you can handle and what you’ll need to contract out – then cost it
- Watch out for a suspiciously low priced properties, especially if they have been on the market for a while. There’s usually a reason for that low price…and you need to know what it is
- It is vital that you seek expert local advice. Unless you are able to do all the work yourself, obtain quotes from area professionals
- Check that you are allowed to make the changes that you require. Your idyllic property may just happen to fall within a conservation area that comes with stringent planning restrictions, and even more severe sanctions imposed for breaching them! Or your home might be within an area of significant archaeological interest - which could mean saying goodbye to your plans to built a pool for those scorching summer days
- Factor in to your calculations that renovation permits can add time delays as well as unexpected costs
- Also make sure of the safety aspects of your old property. Is it located in and around an earthquake zone? This could seriously affect your insurance premiums, not to mention the structural considerations and requirements you will need to adhere to when making changes to the building
Let me know if you decide to tackle a renovation project won’t you – I would be fascinated to hear all about it.
All for now: on Wednesday a friend has asked me to join her on a ‘makeover’ two-for - a renovation project of my very own! One paid (by her), one free (for me)! Wish me luck…
Best wishes,
Carol.
http://www.greecebuyingguide.com
Friday 25 June 2010
Friday 18 June 2010
Moving abroad NOW can still make sense!
Hey – how are you?
Well, it’s the end of a busy time for me. Last week I went to a lecture on ancient maps at the British Library and also went to see the amazing Japanese Kabuki at Sadler’s Wells. It was stunning – very strange and unlike anything I had seen before, but fascinating. Three of the actors came from families that had been involved in Kabuki for generations…we listened to a translation in one ear and caught the sounds in the other – it was brilliant!
Not so our daily intake of news! Are you, like me, rather tired of the constant gloomy headlines in our newspapers and on TV? Sterling seems to vacillate constantly against other currencies and just seems to have added to our woes. If you are keen to have your very own place abroad but feel it to be something of a distant dream, please do not despair!
Your main expense, namely a property abroad, is generally speaking, a lot cheaper than in the UK. If you own a property here this might mean that you will free up quite a sum of money – always useful. And if you don’t have capital to free up, there is very little doubt that it will be less expensive to get your foot on the property ladder abroad. Also remember that the price of property worldwide has been affected by the credit crunch – nowadays it is possible to make cheeky offers and sometimes get real bargains.
The other thing you might think about is ‘testing the waters’. You may want to rent abroad and see whether it suits you and whether indeed it is a viable option to move? You could rent out your property in the UK (if indeed you have one) for a set period of time, rent abroad for the same period of time and that way give yourself time to assess what you really want to do.
That way you will have the opportunity to try out an area before making a commitment to buy. You'll gain an insight into your neighbourhood: is it friendly and crime free or noisy and disorderly? Whether you are going to be living there yourself or buying as an investment it is vital that transport is readily available. Also things grocery stores, schools and other facilities – if it’s a holiday investment, is it near holiday amenities?
The real bonus with this strategy is that if you don't like the area you've decided to settle in overseas, or worse - you don't like the country - you can leave without the burden of selling a property. Most overseas tenancy contracts will tie you into a six or 12 month period rather than the indefinite, and often costly, amount of time it takes to sell a property.
It will also allow you to judge those indefinable things. For instance, have you considered how much you will miss all that is familiar to you? I moved to the UK from South Africa a number of years ago now, and the reason I moved was to be nearer my family, especially my grandchildren. I had no sooner settled than my son-in-law was transferred to Dubai…
My story had a happy ending in that I love London, have made new friends and see my son on a regular basis but you might find that all is not as you perhaps thought it would be.
So…plan on! Only you can make it happen and I am here to tell you that you can change your life if you want to – it’s just a matter of setting your goals and steadily working towards them.
Let me know how your plans are going…I’d love to hear your news…
Have a great week and best regards,
Carol.
http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com
Well, it’s the end of a busy time for me. Last week I went to a lecture on ancient maps at the British Library and also went to see the amazing Japanese Kabuki at Sadler’s Wells. It was stunning – very strange and unlike anything I had seen before, but fascinating. Three of the actors came from families that had been involved in Kabuki for generations…we listened to a translation in one ear and caught the sounds in the other – it was brilliant!
Not so our daily intake of news! Are you, like me, rather tired of the constant gloomy headlines in our newspapers and on TV? Sterling seems to vacillate constantly against other currencies and just seems to have added to our woes. If you are keen to have your very own place abroad but feel it to be something of a distant dream, please do not despair!
Your main expense, namely a property abroad, is generally speaking, a lot cheaper than in the UK. If you own a property here this might mean that you will free up quite a sum of money – always useful. And if you don’t have capital to free up, there is very little doubt that it will be less expensive to get your foot on the property ladder abroad. Also remember that the price of property worldwide has been affected by the credit crunch – nowadays it is possible to make cheeky offers and sometimes get real bargains.
The other thing you might think about is ‘testing the waters’. You may want to rent abroad and see whether it suits you and whether indeed it is a viable option to move? You could rent out your property in the UK (if indeed you have one) for a set period of time, rent abroad for the same period of time and that way give yourself time to assess what you really want to do.
That way you will have the opportunity to try out an area before making a commitment to buy. You'll gain an insight into your neighbourhood: is it friendly and crime free or noisy and disorderly? Whether you are going to be living there yourself or buying as an investment it is vital that transport is readily available. Also things grocery stores, schools and other facilities – if it’s a holiday investment, is it near holiday amenities?
The real bonus with this strategy is that if you don't like the area you've decided to settle in overseas, or worse - you don't like the country - you can leave without the burden of selling a property. Most overseas tenancy contracts will tie you into a six or 12 month period rather than the indefinite, and often costly, amount of time it takes to sell a property.
It will also allow you to judge those indefinable things. For instance, have you considered how much you will miss all that is familiar to you? I moved to the UK from South Africa a number of years ago now, and the reason I moved was to be nearer my family, especially my grandchildren. I had no sooner settled than my son-in-law was transferred to Dubai…
My story had a happy ending in that I love London, have made new friends and see my son on a regular basis but you might find that all is not as you perhaps thought it would be.
So…plan on! Only you can make it happen and I am here to tell you that you can change your life if you want to – it’s just a matter of setting your goals and steadily working towards them.
Let me know how your plans are going…I’d love to hear your news…
Have a great week and best regards,
Carol.
http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com
Friday 11 June 2010
Holiday Planning Tips
Hey there. As we experience our usual erratic weather here in the UK, summer is hotting up in Greece. Are you going out there any time soon to look for your dream home? I am planning a trip later on in the year and I was mulling over a few thoughts about my trip. Being a ‘list lady’, I jotted down a few trip planning priorities – you may like to have a look:
1. Timing: Decide on when to travel to Greece. Choosing to go at off-peak season can cut your costs (airlines/hotels) by as much as a third, and you may just find it far more pleasant without the crowds. I have been as early as April and as late as October and found both to be good times to be there.
It also means that if you are using an estate agent they will be less busy. Do check that they are available while you are there: many take their holidays in the off-peak seasons.
In addition you will have the opportunity to assess how easy it is to get to and from your planned area of purchase out of season, plus give you a look at the area when tourists aren’t there. Do all the shops and restaurants shut – and, if so, will the peace and quiet suit you or will it drive you crazy?
2. Flights: Tourism in Greece has plummeted, what with the economic squeeze, volcanic ash and the various strikes that have upset the usual placid pace of life in the country. All this however means that getting you-know-what on seats hasn’t been as easy as it usually is for the airlines. They are having to reduce prices and there are a few good bargains around so have a good look before you book
3. Car Hire: Unless you know a really good and inexpensive local car hire company, compare prices between booking a car from home with one of the big international car hire companies before settling for a small local company. The results may just surprise you
4. Travel Insurance: Now more than ever it is essential to take out travel insurance and to make sure what it covers you for – witness the volcanic ash debacle and those pesky BA strikes
5. Hotels: If you are booking direct with a hotel, don’t be afraid to ask if that is their ‘best price’. I have had my hotel accommodation price lowered when asking this…it’s worth a shot. Or go online and see what prices the hotel is showing there…it does sometimes vary
6. Travel from airport: Take a bus from the airport rather than a taxi. Find out from your hotel which bus stop is nearby; a mere 3 Euro will take you right into town and you'll save 30 Euro or more. If you do decide to take a taxi, what I have done more than once is to get chatting to a fellow passenger and, if we were heading in the same direction, share the cost of a taxi. Needless to say, be careful…!
7. Ferry rather than Fly: This is a holiday remember – try not to be like me and find yourself rushing along…”Why am I hurrying?” I ask myself? The reason I am saying this is that you may want to try the ferry rather than flying to one of the islands. They are really fun and I have made many a friend on such trips. Or take a bus or train…you see so much more of the country this way too
8. If time is not an issue, the overnight ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion in Crete is great – quite an adventure actually - and saves you a night at a hotel. The hydrofoil trip from Crete to Santorini is also fun: and, in this case, if you take into account that you have to check in early at the airport for your very short flight it also means saving time too
And then, on a purely tourist note:
9. Free entrance to museums: We in the UK have become used to free museums but in Greece the costs can mount up. Be aware that there are free days: find them out in advance and get there early!
10. Athens Combo Ticket: To my shame I must admit that I only found this out myself recently: for a mere 12 Euro, (I bought mine at the Agora) this ticket gives you access to the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Roman Agora, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It also lasts several days and will save you at least a third off the standard ticket prices. Just be careful not to lose the remaining portion of your ticket. It’s worth asking at other archaeological sites too – these deals will seldom be offered upfront!
Given you some food for thought? I hope so…next week I want to continue with the buying aspect – but first we need to get you out there!
Have a great week and take care!
Carol.
http://www.greecebuyingguide.com
1. Timing: Decide on when to travel to Greece. Choosing to go at off-peak season can cut your costs (airlines/hotels) by as much as a third, and you may just find it far more pleasant without the crowds. I have been as early as April and as late as October and found both to be good times to be there.
It also means that if you are using an estate agent they will be less busy. Do check that they are available while you are there: many take their holidays in the off-peak seasons.
In addition you will have the opportunity to assess how easy it is to get to and from your planned area of purchase out of season, plus give you a look at the area when tourists aren’t there. Do all the shops and restaurants shut – and, if so, will the peace and quiet suit you or will it drive you crazy?
2. Flights: Tourism in Greece has plummeted, what with the economic squeeze, volcanic ash and the various strikes that have upset the usual placid pace of life in the country. All this however means that getting you-know-what on seats hasn’t been as easy as it usually is for the airlines. They are having to reduce prices and there are a few good bargains around so have a good look before you book
3. Car Hire: Unless you know a really good and inexpensive local car hire company, compare prices between booking a car from home with one of the big international car hire companies before settling for a small local company. The results may just surprise you
4. Travel Insurance: Now more than ever it is essential to take out travel insurance and to make sure what it covers you for – witness the volcanic ash debacle and those pesky BA strikes
5. Hotels: If you are booking direct with a hotel, don’t be afraid to ask if that is their ‘best price’. I have had my hotel accommodation price lowered when asking this…it’s worth a shot. Or go online and see what prices the hotel is showing there…it does sometimes vary
6. Travel from airport: Take a bus from the airport rather than a taxi. Find out from your hotel which bus stop is nearby; a mere 3 Euro will take you right into town and you'll save 30 Euro or more. If you do decide to take a taxi, what I have done more than once is to get chatting to a fellow passenger and, if we were heading in the same direction, share the cost of a taxi. Needless to say, be careful…!
7. Ferry rather than Fly: This is a holiday remember – try not to be like me and find yourself rushing along…”Why am I hurrying?” I ask myself? The reason I am saying this is that you may want to try the ferry rather than flying to one of the islands. They are really fun and I have made many a friend on such trips. Or take a bus or train…you see so much more of the country this way too
8. If time is not an issue, the overnight ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion in Crete is great – quite an adventure actually - and saves you a night at a hotel. The hydrofoil trip from Crete to Santorini is also fun: and, in this case, if you take into account that you have to check in early at the airport for your very short flight it also means saving time too
And then, on a purely tourist note:
9. Free entrance to museums: We in the UK have become used to free museums but in Greece the costs can mount up. Be aware that there are free days: find them out in advance and get there early!
10. Athens Combo Ticket: To my shame I must admit that I only found this out myself recently: for a mere 12 Euro, (I bought mine at the Agora) this ticket gives you access to the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Roman Agora, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It also lasts several days and will save you at least a third off the standard ticket prices. Just be careful not to lose the remaining portion of your ticket. It’s worth asking at other archaeological sites too – these deals will seldom be offered upfront!
Given you some food for thought? I hope so…next week I want to continue with the buying aspect – but first we need to get you out there!
Have a great week and take care!
Carol.
http://www.greecebuyingguide.com
Friday 4 June 2010
A Few Thoughts of Retiring Abroad
This may or may not apply to you, but if it does, it’s worth thinking about it carefully. Retiring is a whole new ball game as our friends across the pond would say, but to up sticks and retire abroad – well, that takes courage.
There is a whole rather comforting discipline to working – love it or hate it, it does fill the day and give an order and a structure to one’s life. Moving abroad is a huge psychological ask at any time but add to that the utterly new dimension of retirement after perhaps a lifetime of work and it means enormous changes to both your lifestyle and your mindset. There is no reason at all that you should not be utterly happy abroad – provided you have done your homework and planned well in advance.
One tends to become a little more cautious as one gets older and, although making a big life change can be exciting and refreshing, making prior arrangements for pretty much everything will stand you in really good stead and give you a feeling of control. So what are the most important considerations for a successful retirement abroad? Here are a few thoughts:
Finance
- Before you go, make sure all your arrangements for your pension, investments and any income are properly in place. I strongly advise seeking guidance from an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA). Expert help in formulating the plan that takes into account your own personal set of circumstances is essential and you may well save yourself on tax/transfer costs etc.
- Set up an account with a currency company if you need to transfer funds abroad – it will save you a great deal of money over your high street bank. Go to:
http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com
for more on this
- Sometimes bureaucracy abroad can be a little intimidating so make use of a translator with things like setting up direct debits/ understanding bills etc.
Family
If you are close to family you need to know that frequent visits are possible. Think carefully about the location of your new home; you are likely to have far more contact if the journey is relatively easy and not too time-consuming. Being close to an airport for instance will make more frequent visits possible.
Another tip is to make sure you are set up for email and/or a webcam so you can not only talk to your loved ones but see them at the same time.
Structuring your new life abroad
Think ahead a little and aim to have some sort of project or plan perhaps medium to long term. Most of us need to have some sort of structure to our days and retirement is no different.
Active retirees generally have a far happier and more fulfilling life; working in the garden, perhaps tackling a crossword each day, learning the language or taking the dog for a walk will all stand you in good stead for a peaceful and healthy retirement. And dogs make new friends for you too!
You might want to give yourself a geography or history lesson: perhaps to visit a new town each month and find out all about it. Hopefully you will feel enriched by what you see, may well meet new people and will also be keeping fit!
Your new community
As soon as you arrive, make an effort to chat to your neighbours and keep an eye open for any clubs/associations/groups. Most villages abroad have thriving communities and you are more than likely to find a few fellow Brits too! So take some time out at the beginning to meet and greet, get out and about and take advantage of any advice your new neighbours may be willing to give you. Even if it is not something you find useful, you will have made a new friend!
The future
Your house needs to be easily maintained and the smaller the garden the less lawn that needs mowing! You might want to consider somewhere with few stairs for example or somewhere with the possibility of converting one of the downstairs rooms into a bedroom at some stage. And again, think about the location of your new home: that rural retreat may be beautiful but a little bit of village life with reasonably close transport may well be a Godsend. Also consider medical requirements: is there a doctor/hospital nearby, just in case?
Hope this has given you food for thought! The weather has been great all week so let’s hope that the weekend stays good for a change!
Bye for now and best wishes until next time,
Carol
http://www.greecebuyingguide.com
There is a whole rather comforting discipline to working – love it or hate it, it does fill the day and give an order and a structure to one’s life. Moving abroad is a huge psychological ask at any time but add to that the utterly new dimension of retirement after perhaps a lifetime of work and it means enormous changes to both your lifestyle and your mindset. There is no reason at all that you should not be utterly happy abroad – provided you have done your homework and planned well in advance.
One tends to become a little more cautious as one gets older and, although making a big life change can be exciting and refreshing, making prior arrangements for pretty much everything will stand you in really good stead and give you a feeling of control. So what are the most important considerations for a successful retirement abroad? Here are a few thoughts:
Finance
- Before you go, make sure all your arrangements for your pension, investments and any income are properly in place. I strongly advise seeking guidance from an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA). Expert help in formulating the plan that takes into account your own personal set of circumstances is essential and you may well save yourself on tax/transfer costs etc.
- Set up an account with a currency company if you need to transfer funds abroad – it will save you a great deal of money over your high street bank. Go to:
http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com
for more on this
- Sometimes bureaucracy abroad can be a little intimidating so make use of a translator with things like setting up direct debits/ understanding bills etc.
Family
If you are close to family you need to know that frequent visits are possible. Think carefully about the location of your new home; you are likely to have far more contact if the journey is relatively easy and not too time-consuming. Being close to an airport for instance will make more frequent visits possible.
Another tip is to make sure you are set up for email and/or a webcam so you can not only talk to your loved ones but see them at the same time.
Structuring your new life abroad
Think ahead a little and aim to have some sort of project or plan perhaps medium to long term. Most of us need to have some sort of structure to our days and retirement is no different.
Active retirees generally have a far happier and more fulfilling life; working in the garden, perhaps tackling a crossword each day, learning the language or taking the dog for a walk will all stand you in good stead for a peaceful and healthy retirement. And dogs make new friends for you too!
You might want to give yourself a geography or history lesson: perhaps to visit a new town each month and find out all about it. Hopefully you will feel enriched by what you see, may well meet new people and will also be keeping fit!
Your new community
As soon as you arrive, make an effort to chat to your neighbours and keep an eye open for any clubs/associations/groups. Most villages abroad have thriving communities and you are more than likely to find a few fellow Brits too! So take some time out at the beginning to meet and greet, get out and about and take advantage of any advice your new neighbours may be willing to give you. Even if it is not something you find useful, you will have made a new friend!
The future
Your house needs to be easily maintained and the smaller the garden the less lawn that needs mowing! You might want to consider somewhere with few stairs for example or somewhere with the possibility of converting one of the downstairs rooms into a bedroom at some stage. And again, think about the location of your new home: that rural retreat may be beautiful but a little bit of village life with reasonably close transport may well be a Godsend. Also consider medical requirements: is there a doctor/hospital nearby, just in case?
Hope this has given you food for thought! The weather has been great all week so let’s hope that the weekend stays good for a change!
Bye for now and best wishes until next time,
Carol
http://www.greecebuyingguide.com
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