The potential advantages of choosing to build a chalet rather than buy, whether in the Grand Domaine or elsewhere, are numerous: tax advantages, building it to your own requirements, and better amortisation of maintenance costs over the long term.
Our analysis also looks at the list of costs to be taken into consideration when building a chalet.
In practice, however, there is little data available on the actual cost of building a chalet in the Alps.
In order to provide more concrete information, the team of experts at OVO Network looked into the subject, focusing here on the Grand Domaine ski area.
Commune by commune, they give you details of the construction costs of two chalets for seasonal rental.
The initial data for each case study are as follows:
- A chalet for 8 people, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (bathroom), an indoor sauna and an outdoor jacuzzi, 145m² of living space, in a middle area of the Grand Domaine, with a cosy decor;
- A chalet for 14 people, 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 325m² of living space, wellness facilities, and a living room arranged for large group meetings (family reunions or professional events) in a high-demand area, near the ski slopes, with high-end finishes and decor.
How much does it cost to build a chalet in Doucy ?
Case study 1
The owner is planning to build a chalet in Les Cotes, a residential area of Doucy. He selected a 370m² plot at 200€/m².
- Land price: €74,000;
- Notary fees: €5,180, 7% of the total price of the plot.
Services are already connected to the plot
The owner wanted to target holidaymakers working remotely. He wants to create an annexe outside the chalet, which will be used as a workspace.
- Cost of designing and building the chalet: €320,000;
- Furnishings and decoration: €100,000;
- Cost of building the outdoor office annexe: €39,000;
- Cost of fitting out the indoor office area, including IT equipment: €19,000;
- Cost of extending the internet connection to the annexe: €5,000.
This project to build a chalet with an outdoor office in Doucy, in the Grand Domaine, will cost €562,180.
Case study 2
The second owner wants to create an eco-friendly, smart chalet in the heart of the Doucy. He is buying a 340m² plot of serviced land for €159 per m².
- Total price of the plot: €54,060;
- Notary’s fees: €4,324, 8% of the purchase price;
- Construction of a chalet using sustainable materials: €880,000;
- Architect’s fees: €34,000;
- Clean, contemporary interior design: €76,000;
- Functional, durable furnishings: €180,000.
The chalet will be equipped with the latest technology to ensure the comfort of holidaymakers.
- Connected, vertical garden with plants: €50,000;
- Intelligent, autonomous irrigation system: €15,000;
- Integrated LED lighting to highlight the vertical garden: €10,000.
- Home automation for remote control of equipment: €25,000;
- Charging stations for electric vehicles: €20,000.
The total cost of this building project in Doucy, in the Grand Domaine, is €1,348,000.
How much does it cost to build a chalet in Valmorel?
Case study 1
The first owner decided to build a chalet in Les Lanchettes, in Valmorel, an area close to all amenities. She went through an estate agent to find the perfect plot of land. She bought a 465m² plot at 170€/m².
- Land price: €79,050;
- Estate agency fees: 5% of the land price, €3,952;
- Notary fees: €7,111, 9% of the total price of the plot.
Services were connected to the land:
- Connection to electricity: €2,000;
- Drinking water connection: €1,700;
- Gas connection: €2,500;
- Sewerage connection: €2,100.
The owner wanted to install intelligent windows in her property. This type of window offers several advantages, including automated temperature control, adjustment of brightness according to the weather, and enhanced security.
- Design, construction, furnishings and decoration of the chalet: €410,000;
- Cost of smart windows: €75,000;
- Fees for the smart technology installation specialist: €12,000.
This chalet construction project in Valmorel, in the Grand Domaine, costs €595,413.
Case study 2
The owner is buying a 583 m² plot of land in Les Avanchers for €371 per m².
- Total price of the plot: €216,293;
- Notary fees: €17,303, 8% of the purchase price;
- Land servicing: €13,500.
The owner wants to create a well-being area in the chalet, to offer guests an experience of relaxation and connection with the surrounding nature.
- Construction of a contemporary chalet: €580,000;
- Interior designer’s fee: €18,000;
- Builder’s fee: €24,000;
- Interior decoration focusing on serenity and nature: €80,000;
- Comfortable, minimalist furnishings: €100,000;
- Meditation room with panoramic view of the forest: €40,000;
- Zen accessories for meditation: €8,000;
- Relaxation area with a small indoor Zen garden: €15,000;
- Audio system for a soothing ambience: €12,000;
- Indoor and outdoor spa equipment: €76,000.
The total cost of this building project in Valmorel, at the Grand Domaine, is €1,200,000.
How much does it cost to build a chalet in Saint-François-Longchamps?
Case study 1
The first owner acquires a plot of land in Les Longes, Saint-François-Longchamps. The plot covers 392m² and costs €226/m².
- Land price: €88,592;
- Notary fees: €7,087, 8% of the purchase price of the plot;
- Electricity connection: €3,100;
- Drinking water connection: €3,200;
- Gas connection: €2,000;
- Sewerage connection: €2,500.
The owner wants to add a conservatory to the chalet.
- Cost of building the chalet: €350,000;
- Furnishings and decoration: €80,000;
- Cost of building the conservatory: €80,000;
- Creation of a relaxation area in the conservatory: €12,000;
- Specialist gardener’s fee: €4,000.
This project to build a chalet in Saint-François-Longchamps, in the Grand Domaine, costs €552,559.
Case study 2
This owner wanted to create a fun family chalet in Saint-François-Longchamps 1650, in the heart of the resort, close to the restaurants. He is buying a 598m² plot for €242/m².
- Total price of the plot: €144,716;
- Notary fees: €11,577, 8% of the purchase price.
The owner uses the services of an architect who works with her own specialist tradesmen.
- Construction of the chalet: €750,000;
- Colourful, child-friendly interior decoration: €40,000;
- Comfortable, secure furnishings: €150,000.
The outdoor areas will be specially designed for children.
- Design of an outdoor adventure course: €5,000;
- Adventure course with zip line, suspension bridge and climbing wall: €37,000;
- Construction of a tree house: €7,000;
- Slides and swings: €20,000;
- Barbecue and picnic area: €15,000;
- Games room with video game consoles, table tennis and table football: €30,000;
- Reading corner with a collection of children’s books: €4,000;
- Lighting to create a warm atmosphere: €5,000.
- Child-friendly audio system with family playlists: €10,000.
This project to build a chalet in Saint-François-Longchamps, in the Grand Domaine, costs €1,229,000.
Thanks to the case studies we have just analysed, we can conclude:
- In the Grand Domaine, the cost of building a mid-range chalet for 8 people will be between €500,000 and €600,000.
- The cost of building a larger chalet in the heart of the resort, at the foot of the slopes, will average €1.2 million. Prices per square metre of land are still relatively low.
If you’d like some advice on your rental investment project, don’t hesitate to contact OVO Network. With over 200 chalets under rental management, OVO Network can help you make the most of your mountain investment.
Find out how much you can earn by renting out your property using our rental income calculator.
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