Digital Nomad: Could you work remotely in France?

What’s stopping you buying that adorable bolt hole in France? If it’s work, why not pack the laptop and take the office with you?

Could you be a digital nomad? Is home where your laptop is? Admittedly it’s not a possibility for everyone but if you can occasionally work from home then you should be able to occasionally work from France.

The idea of digital nomadism has grown massively since COVID with more and more people freeing themselves from the traditional constraints of 9-to-5 work life and embracing their ability to escape traditional working arrangements and taking on ‘work from home’ positions. If you do decide this is an option for you there are a few things to consider. Firstly, that you will have to be disciplined and actually work while you are at your second home. That might seem obvious but have you considered how it will feel when the rest of the family is heading out to a local chateau or lounging around the pool?

You might be able to adapt your days and get an early start and a corresponding earlier finish to the day. And at the very least you’ll have your evenings free for socialising and those lovely long outdoor meals.

A couple of years ago we had what appeared to me to be the ultimate digital nomads come and house sit for us. We had advertised on Trusted Housesitters and got an application from a couple in their 30s from Seattle. They spent their entire time travelling to different locations, both within the United States and throughout Europe hopping from one house sit to another.

So committed were they to the lifestyle that in six years of marriage they had not got around to getting their own home, either owned or rented! Wherever they were they kept to Seattle times for working which, in our home meant starting at 10pm and working through the night! Now, that might feel a bit extreme but it gave them an incredible adventure and plenty of time in the afternoons and early evenings for exploring and relaxing poolside. If they can make that work for them, then surely it’s possible for most people to squeeze a few more weeks a year from their holiday home and get the satisfaction of maximising their enjoyment of their investment.

 Creating a home office space

If you are already looking for a property you might want to consider updating your wishlist to accommodate the thought of working during your French breaks. Many people still like to be able to close the door to the ‘office’ at the end of the day so the laptops and notepads aren’t sitting there as a reminder all the time. If you can create the luxury of a home office, that’s great. Otherwise consider a dual purpose room that has a desk and either a bed or sofa bed for guests so you get best value from the space. Wifi speed has to be a big consideration and fibre is finding its way into small towns and villages all across the south west. Put it on your list and ask your agent to check the availability and speed of internet connection at any property that looks like a serious contender.

Case Study - It works for me!

We caught up with Tina Lovelock who has a holiday home in the Charente and brings her work on her holiday breaks.

A bit about you?:
I’m Tina, married, early 40’s, 3 children (ages 23,18 and 15), have a dog, Matrix, who is a minature schnauzer.

Where in France did you buy a property?
We brought originally in Verteuil but currently in the process of selling that and buying another house in Couture (both in the Charente).

What was important in that choice?
Initially we wanted to be in the village, so we could meet people. But now we want to have more space, parking, a haven to get away to where we can truly unwind away from the rat race of being at home in the UK. We still wanted to be near friends (both French and some English) that we had made so the 2nd home needed to be not far away from the first.

How much time do you spend in France each year?
We try to come out every 6 to 8 weeks for a long extended weekend and then during the summer and Xmas for longer periods of time.

What sort of work do you do?
I’m a Chief People Officer.

Do you have a dedicated workspace in France or is it the kitchen table?
I have been lucky; even in our little village property I had an office and the new house also has a space I can dedicate to working.

Is it easy to manage working from France?
Yes as long as I have access to WiFi. In the UK I also work from home a couple of days a week so whether it’s at home in the UK or at home in France there is no real difference. Other than at the end of a working day in France I will be able to sit on the veranda and have an amazing view across the country.

What would your best advice be to someone wanting to do a similar thing?
Make sure you have a good internet connection and where possible a space where you can close the door on work at the end of the day so that you can disconnect.

What are the pitfalls (if any)?
That the time you have in France is disrupted by work!

Article written by Julie Savill at Beaux Villages Immobilier for French Property News magazine. Published in in the July/August 2024 edition.