Investing in rental property allows you to build up your assets and diversify your sources of income while benefiting from tax advantages. To guarantee its good profitability, it’s important to respect certain criteria when you’re choosing a property. We will stake the stock with Jean-François Bouillier, manager of the CENTURY 21 Mont-Blanc Invest agency.
The localisation of the housing
When you’re investing in a holiday rental, the location takes an essential dimension. Seasonal accommodation derives its value from its proximity to tourist attractions and amenities. " In Chamonix, it is preferable to choose a property located in or close to the town centre, a maximum of 10 minutes on foot. Properties located close to the ski lifts are also of interest :
- Argentière and the famous Grands-Montets ski area,
- Chavants sector, located aux Houches, with the Prarion gondola lift
- Finally, the village of Les Praz with the new Flégère cable car.
As far as the chalets are concerned, it is advisable to choose a privileged, quiet area, such as the Plaine des Praz or Les Moussoux," says Jean-François Bouillier.
Peace and quiet is an essential criterion for tenants, both seasonal and annual. You should take care to buy a property not so close to city centre areas where bars and restaurants close late.
Type of accommodation
For short-term rentals, the choice of the type of property goes hand in hand with the location. Indeed, an apartment will be more sought after in the city centre, for example. "It should be pointed out that all types of property are very good for seasonal rentals in Chamonix. From studios to 5-room flats, from small chalets to large upmarket chalets, everything can generate excellent rental profitability if certain important rules are respected. “
The number of possible beds is an important criterion: it must be in line with the number of rooms (4 beds for a one-bedroom flat, 6 beds for a 2-bedroom flat...). "If the number of beds is too large for the number of rooms, the property will deteriorate more quickly. ”
The size of the property can affect the profitability of your investment. " Be careful not to buy a property with rooms that are too big. This will mathematically increase its price without increasing its capacity and the amount of rent ".
"For the chalets, offering a sauna and/or a hammam, as well as a cinema room are undeniable advantages for triggering the customer's crush and booking.
For the flats, private parking is not necessarily mandatory. Many guests arrive in Chamonix with shuttles from Geneva airport. However, offering a solution to park a car is not unattractive for some clients. A private parking space is ideal, but an access card to a nearby municipal car park may be very convenient. During their stay, future guests can leave their cars there and travel by bus and train. ”
For dwellings intended for annual rental, the size of the rooms in the dwelling should not be too small. "If a 6 m² room with a double bed is suitable for a few days, it will be more difficult when you live there all year round. Some residences whose flats have been specially designed to accommodate holidaymakers for a week are therefore not to be favoured if you want to have stable tenants who do not leave the flat too quickly. “
The state of the accommodation
The condition of the housing is, of course, a criterion to be taken into account. Jean-François Bouillier explains: "For seasonal rentals, the property must be in very good condition, with excellent amenities. Lodgings with dated decoration or that are in need of maintenance will no longer find takers. “
For annual rentals, care must be taken to ensure that the flat is in good condition for the entry of new tenants. "A poorly maintained flat will still find a tenant, as the rental market in Chamonix is so small. However, you have to be aware that the tenant won't stay for long, so you have to manage a lot of arrivals and departures. This will end up being a significant cost in the long term. A property with storage space, a cellar and private or easily accessible parking will be appreciated.
"To avoid using their own car, tenants will like to be close to the cycle path, train or bus stop. This trend is increasingly present in the criteria cited for tenants. They want to avoid using their vehicle and want to favour gentler modes of transport (bicycle, train, bus...). “
