we re doing it (I think): UK to France before end of 2021

[RelocatingtoFrance]

following a job offer in France, we ve decided to go for it.
I m waiting for contracts to come through before putting in my resignation but the size of the move is freaking is out.

we d have about til december to sell our house, pack up and move to a city we have never visited thanks to covid (Rennes) - although we re hoping for a trip this summer.

we have 2 kids at primary and secondary that make the move more complex, and while the kids and I are french (on paper!) DH is British...

any top tips or wisdom much welcome.
i m looking into internatiinal schools for the kids, and thinking how to pack move and find a rental accommodation in the short term, as we would all go as one trip...

Ahh amazing!!! I am at the very early stages of looking for jobs abroad.
Your children will gain so much from living in another country!!
Very random, but are you not tempted to rent out your house rather than sell it?

we ve rented our main home in the past while on a short-ish time working abroad and we found this very stressful, with the tenants reporting issues on a weekly basis. There was a lot of wear and tear when we came back, and i found it difficult.

I think we like the idea of a clean cut, and being in a position to buy again with a smaller mortgage once over there. It s all still a bit (lot) daunting though!

Oooh lovely. Very jealous!
A move to France isn’t as scary as it sounds but definitely check out the new import laws (and don’t try and pack any house plants!).
The traffic system through Rennes (like any city really) is insane. Definitely check out routes to where you would be working before deciding where to live.

Definitely rent first

Are there international schools in Rennes? Check they aren't just French schools with a section internationale. Totally different but you will know all this because you are French.

Good luck. I've done it with DC - there and back and now somewhere inbetween.

crap.... i forgot about house plants - another insane Brexit gift to contend with!

@tiggiensuldd you are correct - it seems section internationale is the option we have. I m calling them today. How did your DC adapt?

If we manage to go for a short visit, we ll try to find a rental near work / school to evaluate our options.

Good luck! We looked at it - Covid meaning we haven't seen the French side of the family for 18 months - but ultimately the costs of international school were so insane and the salaries so much less than here, that it just didn't make sense for us to take such a drastic financial hit. We also realised whilst looking at schools that the french bureaucracy was likely to drive us mad and maybe we are both too integrated into British society to live there now. With your DH being British, does he have any plans to obtain French citizenship or does he plan on going the visa route?

I just came on to say that Rennes is a lovely town, although I only know it from afar: the right size (for me!), nice areas to shop and to live, and easy day trips to the seaside or to Paris.
It sounds great to give your DCs the chance to live in one of their countries!

@tiggiensuldd you are correct - it seems section internationale is the option we have. I m calling them today. How did your DC adapt?

My DC actually went straight into French schools with no section internationales for 2 years and not a word of French to begin with. It was very rural and they actually had a really happy time. We moved to a city after 2 years and they went to schools with si - primary was great, college was awful. Just depends on the schools, town etc but that was our experience.

Before you sign a rental contract in France, be aware that renters have to take out insurance for the property, and it’s your responsibility to do routine maintenance, get chimney swept, boiler serviced etc. Your landlord may appear relaxed when you move in but when you move out will go ape-shit if there’s as much as a teaspoon missing. Check everything works properly and report any defects to the landlord as soon as you can on moving in.

Old buildings may look charming and ‘French’ but come with constant repairs, dodgy wiring and high utility bills.

I'm reading this feeling pretty homesick and dreaming of doing the same... DH is not keen though. How is the move going @RelocatingtoFrance?