Ibanista

28/10/2026

🇫🇷 After helping people relocate to France, there are a few things I find myself saying over and over again.

And they're not necessarily the things people expect.

1️⃣ Don't choose where to live based on where you enjoyed your holiday.
A town can be wonderful for a week in July, but living there in November is a completely different experience. Think about your everyday life. Where will you shop? How will you get around? What will you do on a Tuesday afternoon? And most importantly, how will you meet people and build a social life?

2️⃣ If you're not sure where you want to settle, rent first.
I know buying a beautiful French property is part of the dream for many people. But renting for your first year gives you time to understand an area properly before making such a big commitment. You might discover that you prefer a different neighbourhood, a nearby town or even an entirely different region.

3️⃣ Don't assume that having money in the bank makes renting easy.
This surprises a lot of our clients, particularly retirees. French landlords often want to see regular, predictable income, and having substantial savings doesn't automatically guarantee your application will be accepted. The way you prepare and present your rental dossier can make a real difference.

4️⃣ Start learning French before you arrive.
You don't need to be fluent, but making the effort will change your experience of living here. It's not just about dealing with paperwork or ordering at a restaurant. It's about getting to know your neighbours, joining local activities and feeling part of the community.

5️⃣ Plan your move in the right order.
Your visa, housing, finances and arrival dates are all connected. One of the mistakes I see is people making big commitments before understanding how everything fits together. You don't need to have every detail figured out two years in advance, but having a realistic plan can save you a lot of unnecessary stress and expense.

My biggest piece of advice? Don't just plan how you're going to move to France. Spend just as much time thinking about how you're actually going to live here.

21/10/2026

It's tempting to get everything packed up and on its way as soon as you've decided to move. After all, international shipping can take weeks, sometimes months.

But there's one thing I'd really encourage you to think about before booking that container: where is everything going to go when it arrives?

If you haven't secured your long-term rental yet, you could end up paying for storage, dealing with unexpected delivery costs or trying to coordinate everything before you've even got the keys to your new home. And if you're planning to rent furnished for your first year, you might discover you don't actually need half the things you've shipped!

My advice? Try to coordinate your shipping timeline with your housing plans, and make sure you understand your storage and delivery options before committing.

Moving internationally involves a lot of moving parts, and getting the timing right can save you unnecessary stress and expense. Book a 1:1 Power Hour to talk through your plans and next steps: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0zbQGB0

19/10/2026

Planning a 7-14 day scouting trip to France? Here’s the question we get asked constantly, and the answer most people don’t want to hear.

France looks manageable on a map. In practice, driving from Brittany to Bordeaux takes around 7 hours. Bordeaux to Nice is another 6. We’ve seen people arrive at property exhibitions and point at essentially a quarter of the country as their scouting area. It sounds ambitious. In practice it means spending most of the trip behind a windscreen and not really understanding anywhere.

The answer for a 7-14 day trip is one region, two areas within it, and no more than 2-3 property viewings per day. That might sound like very little. It’s actually the right amount, because the goal of a first scouting trip isn’t to find a property. It’s to come home with a much clearer picture of where you want to keep looking.

The gaps between viewings are where you actually absorb a place. The market on a Wednesday morning tells you more than any staged apartment. Sitting in a neighbourhood café, driving to the hospital and timing the journey, showing up to an evening event or an association, that’s the material a good scouting trip is made of. A property shortlist is a bonus.

Before you book anything, answer six questions honestly:
What does a normal week actually need from this place?
What climate are you comfortable with year-round?
Do you need a car or does car-free living matter?
How important is airport or TGV access?
What size of place do you want around you?
And what are you genuinely prepared to compromise on?

Answer those clearly and you’ll cut a quarter of France down to two areas before you’ve spent a penny on flights.

Book a one-to-one Power Hour with Ben to work through your scouting trip plans, your shortlist, and exactly where to focus your time: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0z7gcL0

14/10/2026

If you're planning a move to France, chances are you've already spent hours researching visas, healthcare, bank accounts and all the paperwork that comes with relocating.

And while all of that is important, there are a few other things I'd really encourage you to start doing before you arrive.

1️⃣ Start learning French NOW.
You don't need to be fluent before moving, but don't underestimate how much easier life becomes when you can have a basic conversation. Even 20 minutes a day now will put you in a much better position when you arrive.

2️⃣ Start looking at actual rental properties.
Even if you're not moving for another year, spend some time on French property websites looking at what's available in the towns you're considering. You'll quickly get a better understanding of what your budget can realistically get you, which neighbourhoods might work and whether your wish list needs adjusting.

3️⃣ Understand what moving will mean for your finances.
This is something I'd look into well before booking the removal company. How will becoming a French tax resident affect your income, pensions or investments? What about your bank accounts back home? And how will you transfer money to France? These are conversations worth having with qualified cross-border advisers early, because some decisions are much harder to undo once you've moved.

4️⃣ Start thinking about how you'll actually spend your week.
This is one of the biggest pieces of advice I give people. Look into local tennis clubs, walking groups, French classes, volunteering opportunities or whatever you enjoy doing. These are what I call your weekly anchors, the things that get you out of the house, help you meet people and gradually build a life in France.

Because moving to France isn't just about getting your visa approved and finding somewhere to live. It's about making sure you can build a life here that you'll genuinely enjoy.

🇫🇷 Planning your move to France and not sure where to start?
Book a 1:1 Power Hour with Ben, where we can talk through your plans, priorities and next steps: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0z0rTW0

09/10/2026

Moving to France with a pet? The question most people ask is "are pets allowed?" It's the wrong question.

The right question is: what does the landlord need to feel comfortable saying yes? That shift changes everything about how you approach the conversation, and whether you get the property.

Here's how to think about it.

Furnished or unfurnished? This matters more than most people realise. A furnished property means the landlord's sofa, rugs and curtains are at risk. An unfurnished property is a blank canvas, the risk picture looks very different.

Lead with specifics on size and breed. "I have a dog" is a very different sentence to "I have a 6kg Cavalier King Charles, house-trained, no history of damage." Landlords think in specifics. Give them the details that reduce the risk in their mind, before they have to ask.

What reassurance can you offer? Include a photo of the pet in your application, it makes them real rather than abstract. Proof of vaccinations, vet records, an offer to take responsibility for specific potential damage in writing, a reference from a previous landlord confirming no damage. Each of these removes a reason to say no.

Use your cover letter, not just your dossier. Most applicants treat the pet as a footnote, something to mention at the end and hope gets overlooked. The applications that tend to succeed introduce the pet naturally in the cover letter, as part of the story of who they are and why they're choosing this property. A well-handled pet mention can actually strengthen an application. It shows thoughtfulness. Landlords say yes to people they trust, and trust is built through how clearly you've thought about their perspective, not just your own.

Don't make your pet the awkward detail you hope nobody notices. Make them part of the story.

Download our free rental guide, it covers how to structure your full dossier, pets included: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0yWtlq0

07/10/2026

If you’re planning a move to France, don’t leave learning French until you arrive.

You don’t need to be fluent. Even a basic level can make a huge difference to how confidently you handle everyday life, ordering a coffee, chatting to a neighbour, joining a local club or simply asking for help when you need it.

And just living in France doesn’t mean you’ll automatically pick up the language. It’s surprisingly easy to stay in an English-speaking bubble.

Even 20–30 minutes a day now gives you a foundation to build on when you arrive.

Don’t wait for France to teach you French. Give yourself a head start.

05/10/2026

Is moving to France still worth it in 2026?

France has changed, and some of the things that used to make the decision feel relatively straightforward deserve another look. The summers are getting hotter. French politics is entering an important period ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The bureaucracy hasn't suddenly become easier. And there are financial considerations, particularly around tax and inheritance, that can have a major impact depending on your personal circumstances.

But that's only half the picture.

Watch on YouTube:

📅 Moving to France Power Hour - Book a 1:1 strategy session with Be...

28/09/2026

Moving to France could be one of the best decisions you ever make. It can also frustrate you in ways you probably aren't expecting. There's the France you imagine before you move, the markets, cafés, slower pace and beautiful places. And then there's the reality of actually building a life here.

Watch the full video:

23/09/2026

Looking for a furnished rental in France for 4–6 months? 🇫🇷

Try searching “[town] + conciergerie” on Google Maps.

Many manage holiday rentals that can sit empty outside peak season. A few months of guaranteed occupancy could work for both you and the owner.

Sometimes it pays to look beyond the usual rental websites.

21/09/2026

Spending hours on French property portals, sending dozens of enquiries and barely getting a response? You might be approaching your rental search the wrong way.

Watch the full video:

📅 Moving to France Power Hour - Book a 1:1 strategy session with Be...