House Viewings Our Essential Criteria
Preparing for House Viewings in France: Our Essential Criteria
With time off work booked, travel arrangements made, and accommodation sorted, we're finally ready for our French property viewings. The agent has sent us a curated list of possibilities, and now comes the crucial part: getting crystal clear about what we're actually looking for.
The golden rule for any house purchase where you have the luxury of choice is simple—we absolutely have to love the place. Not like it, not think it's "fine for now," but genuinely love it. We need to be able to imagine ourselves not just living there, but thriving there.
The Christmas Tree Test
A property podcaster once mentioned they had to be able to imagine where their Christmas tree would go, and that resonated deeply with us. Teresa has built a wonderful collection of Christmas decorations over the years, and we buy new ornaments wherever we travel. Being able to envision Christmas morning in a potential home has become our unofficial litmus test—if we can't picture the magic of the holidays there, it's probably not our place.
The Non-Negotiables
Kitchen: The Heart of the Home
The kitchen has to be more than functional—it needs to be lovely. We're looking for multiple counter spaces, room for several appliances, and crucially, enough space to actually cook and get properly messy. The bigger and nicer, the better. This is where we'll spend much of our time, so compromise here feels impossible.
Bathrooms: Comfort and Practicality
One beautiful bathroom is essential, but ideally we'd love two (including an ensuite). As we get older, we've learned there are definitely moments when you don't want to queue or share facilities. Plus, I'm a bath person—shower-only properties would be genuinely difficult for me.
Living Spaces That Actually Work
The lounge needs to accommodate two sofas without feeling cramped. We want a space where we can truly relax, not just squeeze in.
For dining, we need room for a table that seats eight or more. This isn't just about entertaining—we're serious board game enthusiasts, and those marathon game nights require proper space to spread out. We both work from home, so atleast one clear office space would be nice.
Bedrooms: Rest and Storage
The master bedroom must have room to breathe—space for wardrobes, drawers, comfortable movement around the bed, and proper bedside tables. One additional good-sized double bedroom is essential, while any other rooms can be smaller and more flexible in purpose. One of the bedrooms also needs to be a potential office space.
The Nice-to-Haves
A separate utility space would be wonderful, though we can be flexible here. See? We're not completely precious about everything!
Also we have a continually growing collection of books, so shelves or a good space for shelves that would be needed. Remember buying books and reading books are quite separate hobbies. But which every you do the books need to be on display.
Outdoor Living
After looking at properties across southern France and even around the Loire Valley, we've made peace with something I never thought I'd say: having a pool seems to be a reasonable expectation for detached homes outside towns and villages. So yes, “our” criteria now includes a pool.
We'd love a terrace for summer dining and relaxation, plus a small garden with some grass and planting areas. Covered parking is ideal but not critical, and the same goes for garden storage or a garage—these can usually be arranged later if space allows.
The Deal-Breaker
Here's our number one requirement that could instantly eliminate an otherwise perfect property: internet connectivity. We both work online, we're avid online gamers, and frankly, we live much of our lives online. Good internet isn't a luxury for us—it's absolutely essential.
The Intangible Factor
Finally, there's the overall look and feel. This is the hardest to define but perhaps the most important. A property can tick every practical box, but if it doesn't feel right when we walk through the door, if we can't imagine ourselves calling it home, then it's not for us.
The viewings ahead will be as much about following our instincts as checking off our list. After all, we're not just buying a house—we're choosing the backdrop for the next chapter of our lives in France.
The Final Sunset
We could end up passing into the sunset of our lives in this place. Wouldn’t it be nice if it had a view “to die for”? I would like to imagine sitting on my terrace, sipping my last glass of wine, listening to my favourite music and watching my final sunset. If I get that feeling, then I will be reaching for the cheque book.
