Villas inside and out
Buying a ski chalet
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Eugene Gold Tuesday 16 August 2011 |
I have this banker friend who received a bigger that expected bonus last year. Don't ask me why he got a bonus because it makes my blood boil, but there he is with a chunk of extra money in his bank account.
What has he always wanted to do? He has always wanted to buy a ski chalet. You know the kind of thing, ski-in ski-out, useable both winter and summer, great for friends and family.
The sad part of this story is that he is a workaholic and does not have that much time to spend with friends or family and seldom takes holidays beyond the long weekend.
So, what are the key tasks to fulfilling his dream? Probably first on the list is deciding on location and what he expects from the resort. This is not a trivial task as the ideal location for his new chalet may not be the same as his favourite short-break ski holiday.
Altitude and snow reliability are pretty obvious considerations but variety of runs, access to off-piste skiing, ski lessons, prices of lift passes etc. may be more important to family, friends and guests. These are also considerations that may change as he and his family get older.
Another important factor is access. Can you drive there? is there a reliable train service? At the moment, he just jumps on a 'plane but looking forward a few years, that may no longer be the best option. Buying a chalet is a longer-term investment and requires long-term thinking. Skiing four or five weekends a year allows you to pick resorts at will. Owning a ski property makes it essential that you choose the right place.
Brian has always loved the traditional Swiss-chalet, chocolate box look. He probably has the money to afford this and is unlikely to be happy in a purpose built apartment no matter how close it is to the lifts. This alone brings a host of problems.
A chalet, halfway up the slopes in the changing climate of winter and summer needs maintenance not to mention the love and care that will keep it safe and sound. Brian is prone to fads, although to be fair, he has had the chalet dream for a long time. Will he put in the time to make it a reality? we shall see and I will be happy to report back in due course.
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Peter Lamb 23 August 2011, 11:38PM | |
Having purchased a ski chalet about 12 years ago, I can confirm the wisdom of this article. Having a place of your own that you want to go back to regularly is very different from having the flexibility of just choosing a resort for a week or weekend skiing. The point made about ski school is also very valid. When I purchased my chalet, I was not even married. Now, we have two children who have both gone through the ski school stages. There were no problems but it just demonstrates how requirements can change. I purchased in Lech and have been very well satisfied. I probably paid over-the-top for it back then but it has been well maintained and Lech has been a good resort, well linked and connected and providing interesting skiing for the many friends and family that have stayed there. | |
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Gordon 15 September 2011, 02:02PM | |
The problem with buying is the one highlighted by Eugene: your needs change and the one you bought and the location that its in becomes past it. I originally bought in France and then upgraded to Switzerland in a shared chalet with another family. Good idea at the time but sharing breaks friendships. We then downgraded to Austria and that has been excellent. When the market picks up, we will sell and simply rent in the future. | |
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