How should I market my B&B or gîte so I get a quick ROI? (Part 2)

(continued...)

4. Market your business in France with a leaflet which can be displayed at the local office de tourisme - check out the size of their leaflet dispensers before you design it. Print double-sided and put lots of photos on.

5. Make an A4 poster for UK marketing, it can be displayed in post offices, supermarkets and leisure clubs - anywhere where you have family or friends who are rooting for you to succeed. Don't overlook the 'trust factor' involved in local advertising. Choose an eye-catching headline (big enough to be read a couple of metres away) use colour photos, succinct text (perhaps bullet-points) and clear contact details. Have your phone number on tear-off strips along the bottom - and replace the poster when it, or the strips, have been removed.

How should I market my Bed and Breakfast or gîte so I get a quick ROI? (Part 1)

Here are five top tips for marketing your Bed and Breakfast or gîte to get a quick return on your investment:

1. A picture really is worth a thousand words, take photos of your property on a bright, sunny day; compose your shots carefully and clear away clutter from room and garden beforehand. A few designer touches will pay dividends; a big bowl of fruit in the kitchen, flowers in the living room and wood in the fireplace will all handsomely repay the effort. If you offer a Bed and Breakfast don't be coy, you are your biggest asset - have some nice smiley photographs of yourselves to give that personal touch.
2. Don't price yourself out of the market, study what your competitors are charging and undercut them until you have established yourself and have repeat bookings.
3. Don't build your own website, put your property on a couple of 'directory' websites which already have thousands of hits per day. Look on Google and choose sites from the first two pages that are user-friendly, informative and will present your property attractively and with lots of photographs. The first photo you upload will normally be the principal photo - so make sure it's your best. Mention any 'added value' you can offer as hosts such as baby-sitting facilities, help with booking restaurants or organising activities.

Continued in next blog.....

Tax Tips for UK residents moving to France

Don't be tempted to run for the French hills and leave your tax bills behind you - the long arm of the taxman easily stretches across the channel.

But don't worry - with the 'double imposition' treaty in place between the UK and France, you will only pay your dues once. To tie things up neatly before you leave heed the following advice:

• Complete and return an Inland Revenue Form P85 giving your departure date. The Inland Revenue will then settle your tax liability.
• While you are still a UK resident think about taking any tax-free cash commutation from your pension - it might not be so easy when you are already in France.
• While you will be entitled to receive your UK pension while living in France, it might be a good idea to get a forecast of your future entitlement from the Department of Work and Pensions. You might need to top up your Class 3 Contributions to obtain a full pension. Contact www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

Investing in French Property?

If you're considering buying a French property as an investment rather than somewhere to live then the maxim of 'caveat emptor' or 'buyer beware' applies even more than usual.

If you're going to out-perform that disappointing pension fund you were counting on, then remember you make your money when you buy - not when you sell!

• The best investment may be in a place where you wouldn't necessarily want to live. Make the decision with your head not your heart or aesthetic judgement.
• How seasonal is your rental potential? while ski or coastal resorts' appeal is seasonal, capital cities offer all-year-round potential.
• Choose a location with a strong demand and limited supply.
• Buy under market value, this enables you to make your money when you sell.
• Spot up-and-coming areas! Is a new airport being built?, Are budget airlines opening new routes?, Are lots of jobs being created in the area? Think in advance about your pool of future tenants and their access to your property.
• Have an exit strategy. How easy will it be to sell up? If the answer to this is 'not very' then should you really be buying there? or should you really be paying so much?