First, a huge thank you for all the kind words and encouragement after the article about our renovation shock (if you missed it, you can read it here). We read every single message — and truly appreciated each one. 😊
Several of you asked a great follow-up question: Why is everything so expensive? This isn’t a deeply researched economic thesis, but here’s what we’ve learned from our own experience.
What’s Driving the Costs
Materials prices have soared since the pandemic. The war in Ukraine and rising energy costs over the past three years have further squeezed the availability and price of many essential building materials.
Reputable French artisans carry décennale insurance — essentially a 10-year warranty on their work that transfers to any future buyer. It’s a serious commitment to quality, it isn’t cheap, and because no one wants claims on their record, these tradespeople take their craftsmanship seriously and don’t cut corners.
Skilled labor in France is exactly that: skilled. These aren’t day laborers. These are trained tradespeople who take pride in their craft, working either independently or for construction companies that pay living wages and contribute heavily to the French social system. In rural areas like ours, the pool of experienced, reputable workers is small — waitlists of six months or more are completely normal. Nobody’s gouging, but there isn’t much competition to drive prices down either.
A Rough Guide to Renovation Costs
We came across a helpful article from Long Term Rentals in France, where two architects from Carcassonne shared a pricing framework that matches our experience so far:
- Small renovation (painting, floor refinishing, ceilings): ~€500/m²
- Medium renovation (kitchen, bathrooms, windows, electrical, plumbing): ~€1,000/m²
- Large renovation (structural changes, deep infrastructure work): ~€1,300/m²
Don’t let those numbers frighten you off. We’re sharing them to help you plan, not to discourage you.
How to Use This Information
Keep renovation costs in mind when house hunting. There are many neglected properties in rural France — precisely because renovating them is so costly — and sellers sometimes still price them high. Rural real estate doesn’t appreciate quickly, so assuming you’ll recoup a large renovation investment is risky. If a place tugs at your heartstrings and it’s truly the one, go for it — but with eyes wide open. It’s likely a labor of love, not a financial investment.
You can do a surprising amount of work yourself in France. Unless a property is historical or sits near a protected site, there’s real freedom to DIY — especially for interior work.
The Longer View
In the US, we moved frequently. But this house is different. This one is going to be our maison de famille — our family house. In France, that term carries real weight. It’s the kind of place passed down through generations, where birthdays, holidays, and long summer afternoons accumulate into decades of memories.
That kind of home isn’t built overnight. And that’s okay.
There are moments when I feel pressure to make everything perfect immediately — especially with family and friends visiting. But I’m learning there’s something genuinely beautiful about letting people witness the transformation over time. Watching a place slowly come into its own, with meaning built in at every stage.
Thank you for following along with us on this journey. It’s not always easy — but it’s going to be absolutely worth it.
Baguettes and Butter 4eva, Raina❤️
