Renovating in France - French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED
Rosie Ellis and Sue Peake-Russell (30+ years combined French renovation experience!)Renovating in France - French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED is your honest, no-fluff guide to buying and renovating French property - and living to tell the tale!
Whether you're a first-time buyer dreaming of doing up a rural French ruin, a seasoned renovator deep in the dust and chaos, or an entrepreneur planning to turn your French property into a gîte, chambre d'hôtes, wedding venue or retreat - you'll find real stories, insider tips, and actionable advice here to help you avoid costly mistakes and navigate your French renovation journey with confidence (and a healthy dose of humour!).
We cover the topics that YouTube channels and TV shows like Escape to the Chateau and A Place in the Sun don't - or won't:
French planning laws, building permits and mairie requirements
How to find and manage reliable French artisans
Renovation budgets, real costs and why DIY isn't always the saving you think
French property diagnostics, DPE energy ratings and what they mean for buyers
The French buying process - compromis de vente, vice cachée, notaires and more
Insurance, decennale guarantees and your legal obligations as a property owner
Living on site during a renovation (yes, really)
Turning your renovation into a business - gîtes, tax, SCI, micro-entreprise and exit strategies
The realities of working with French tradespeople - devis, deposits and travail au noir
The reality behind YouTube château renovation channels
What renovation reality TV gets wrong (and why it could cost you dearly if you follow their lead)
We also bring in the experts - estate agents with 40 years in the French market, accountants, interior architects, and business consultants who've seen it all and aren't afraid to say so.
Hosted by Rosie Ellis and Sue Peake-Russell, two women with over 30 years of combined French renovation experience, who run trade businesses in Brittany and the Gers respectively. In earlier episodes (1–16), they're joined by founding host Micala Wilkins, whose background in providing back-office support for her husband's electrical business and marketing for trades in general, brought a brilliant additional perspective to the show.
Expect honest advice, plenty of laughs, and more than a few WTF moments.
Get more French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED! Subscribe on your favourite listening app and find downloadable guides for each episode, plus our newsletter, at frenchrenodiaries.com. Join the community on Facebook and Instagram.
- No. of episodes: 21
- Latest episode: 2026-06-30
- Education Leisure Home & Garden How To
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