Are you sick of the weather over the British summer time always promising so much yet constantly failing to deliver? Do you spend your weeknight evenings dreaming of a steaming plate of paella or perhaps a slice of freshly made wood-fired oven pizza while you’re munching your boring old roast dinner?

If the answer to these questions is “yes”, why not join the thousands of Brits who have already decided to take the plunge by purchasing a holiday home abroad? Spain and France are two of the most popular destinations for UK property owners opting to take out a second home insurance policy, but regardless of which country tempts you, there are several sensible tips which should always be followed.

Firstly, consider who will take care of the property when you’re back in the UK. Are there local companies willing to do the cleaning and gardening at a fair price? This is particularly important to consider if you’re planning on renting the property out to holidaymakers when you’re not using it.

If renting the property out is a priority for you, make sure you take the advice of a holiday cottage letting agent. They can tell you more about the market in the local area that interests you and will let you know how much rental you can expect each month of the year, since seasonal fluctuations can be significant.

Always make sure that you seek an independent valuation and survey of the property before you finalise the purchase. Any potential problems will be flagged up at this stage. You should always make sure when looking at your finances that you take into account all of the taxes applicable to the sale; you might be surprised at how much more that adds on to the final asking price.

Perhaps the most important piece of advice you can take notice of, however, is to protect your holiday home against the range of worst case scenarios that can occur at any time. Make sure you purchase a comprehensive holiday home insurance policy to keep your mind at ease when you’re not in the same country.

If you’re considering purchasing a second home abroad, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, there are over one million homes in France and Spain (traditionally popular summer sun destinations for those based in the UK) alone owned by Brits as an official second home. Furthermore, each year, a further 20,000 British homeowners seriously consider purchasing second properties located beyond the borders of the UK.

With the cost of living continuing to rise in this country, unemployment figures shooting through the roof, and the frustrating weather over here making our summer months unpredictable to say the least, this is a trend that is surely only going to become more and more popular.

However, despite the benefits that buying a second home abroad can bring, there are certain points to consider before taking the plunge.

For instance, will you be able to set up a payment arrangement for the property without too much effort? It shouldn’t be too tricky to arrange an overseas mortgage, and currency brokers should ensure that you don’t lose out financially as a result of the exchange rate, but you need to make sure that you have decent contacts in the property sector both in the UK and the country you’re seeking to buy in, just to ease the process.

Furthermore, you need to make sure you take out adequate second home insurance; this is quite simply essential, especially if the building is going to be left unoccupied for long spells of time. Shop around before taking out a policy as some companies will cater for second home owners more than others, and always make sure you take out valuables insurance as well, despite the increase this will entail to your premium.

If you make sure you follow these tips, and of course check out the legal requirements of owning property overseas, you should be well on your way to living the high life out in the European sun!