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The straw-bale service
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We have lived in this part of SW France for many years and have built up an extensive network of reliable professional contacts in both the Lot and the Corrèze. Along with my own practical experience, this enables me to offer a number of services to suit your needs:-
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Location I can put you in touch with trusted local estate agents to search for a suitable plot of constructibe land or an existing property. Because I receive a small finder's fee from them, you would not have to pay anything extra for this service.
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Preparation As with every profession, there are good and bad architects. If you plan to extend, convert or renovate an old property or build a new one from scratch, I can help you locate a reliable architect: someone who can come up with a design and then liaise with the authorities to obtain your permis de construire (or planning permission). I can also go through with you some of the techniques and options available so that you can appreciate what's available and make an educated choice. Since there are very few professionals with the necessary experience of building with straw, this service can also include advice (based on theory and practical lessons learned) on the technical aspects of using straw bales as a building material. This can be via one-to-one tuition or small-group on-site workshop.
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Co-ordination One option is to employ your architect to oversee your project. But this can be very expensive and may present problems with language. You may be able to do this yourself, but to do this successfully you need to be on site on a really regular basis. If this is not practical, I can help you: ¤ Locate suitable materials, suppliers and artisans ¤ Draw up and oversee the budget ¤ Co-ordinate the various stages of the project - right through to the final official inspections
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Property management Once you have bought or built your house, you may want someone with practical experience to keep a watchful eye on the property when let to others or during any protracted absences. For a standard hourly rate, I can visit the house as regularly as you specify and help to resolve any problems that might arise.
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