Accommodation for Work

[T&G]

Hi al. My partner and I are renovating an old farmhouse in Holland. There is a lot to do.
We have been watching some TV shows where others offered free housing to willing young people in exchange for odd jobs.
Does anyone have experience with starting something like this?
How do we start advertising or is there a special site for such opportunities?
What kind of odd job experience can we expect and how do people think we can trust the workers to do a good job.
Any other comments are welcome.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

What kind of odd job experience can we expect and how do people think we can trust the workers to do a good job.

I think all you can expect, is people willing and wanting to learn. Just basic labour, nothing more skilled than that.

 

[Notch7]

What a shame I'm not in a situation to take up such an offer, I'd love to have the opportunity to do something like that.....dont think the wife, dog, in laws would be so keen

how do people think we can trust the workers to do a good job

You need to be very very careful, or you could end up with a massive headache
Ask tradesmen on here for their experience of having apprentices / labourers


I think you need to think very carefully what skills you you require, because a totally unskilled labourer may be more of a hindrance than a help

You probably want an experienced site labourer or improver, not somebody that is clueless

what you are offering is ideal for somebody who is in a life situation that has no commitments........which often means young people or drifters

 

[opps]

As above... I would expect that anyone willing to work for free would not be a skilled tradesperson. Are you going to give them shelter, food and beer?

With regards to TV- much of it is fake.

 

[T&G]

Notch7,
We can accommodate couples and pets, so you and your wife and dog are welcome.
I am not sure about the in laws. Outlaws are welcome.
I also do not know how to bring a pet into Holland. I have never needed to.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

How do we start advertising or is there a special site for such opportunities?

It seems some do this, as a cheap form of holiday - maybe try searching facebook, for groups, offering similar.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Notch7,
We can accommodate couples and pets, so you and your wife and dog are welcome.
I am not sure about the in laws. Outlaws are welcome.
I also do not know how to bring a pet into Holland. I have never needed to.

Pet passports in a nutshell, not cheap.

 

[Mottie]

Notch7,
We can accommodate couples and pets, so you and your wife and dog are welcome.
I am not sure about the in laws. Outlaws are welcome.
I also do not know how to bring a pet into Holland. I have never needed to.

Take him. If you want, I’ll start a crowdfunder for his travel and tomatoes as long as you don’t allow him internet access.

 

[T&G]

One thing I have discovered when you have others assisting you is the financing of the work can become a problem.
When there is just the two of us, our financing of the work can keep pace with the the work. But when there is more of us it can be hard to keep up with the financing of the work which moves on at a greater pace.
So it makes sense sometimes to delay the start of a project until you have sufficient funds available to see it through when you enjoy the assistance of others.

 

[ellal]

Don't forget that should you attract any UK people over it will eat into their 3 months out of the 6 month rolling visitation quota allowed in the EU/EEA...

And of course you will have to be very careful of what you provide, given that third country rules now apply to UK citizens thanks to brexit!

 

[Notch7]

Take him. If you want, I’ll start a crowdfunder for his travel and tomatoes as long as you don’t allow him internet access.

thats ok Ive got that free roaming you keep banging on about

 

[T&G]

Don't forget that should you attract any UK people over it will eat into their 3 months out of the 6 month rolling visitation quota allowed in the EU/EEA...

And of course you will have to be very careful of what you provide, given that third country rules now apply to UK citizens thanks to brexit!

Having eagerly consumed advice form other expats, I am now in a position to contribute to such help to others.

 

[Mottie]

Don't forget that should you attract any UK people over it will eat into their 3 months out of the 6 month rolling visitation quota allowed in the EU/EEA...

Do you really think someone from the U.K. will want to spend more than any time in the EU working for just a roof over their heads? I dread to think of the calibre of worker you’d get.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Do you really think someone from the U.K. will want to spend more than any time in the EU working for just a roof over their heads? I dread to think of the calibre of worker you’d get.

You're looking at it from a very narrow angle

 

[Notch7]

Do you really think someone from the U.K. will want to spend more than any time in the EU working for just a roof over their heads? I dread to think of the calibre of worker you’d get.

I would love to go and spend time in a lovely French farmhouse for a few weeks.

France is a lovely place, in fact there are many beautiful countries in the EU