Jos de Vaan (61) has been a big fan of the Ardennes since childhood. Just a two-hour drive from his hometown of Eindhoven, he imagines himself in a completely different world. The forests, the humid air and nature are a source of relaxation. In 2006, he had the opportunity to buy a plot of land in Monchau, close to the German border. He could afford it, and partly because of his financial background – Jos is a certified financial advisor – he did not hesitate for a moment. In an interview, Jos talks about the warm investment he made, the construction and furnishing of the house and, above all, the great passion he and wife Ellie developed for welcoming their guests to vacation home La Salutation.

With what purpose did you have the house built?

‘Under the motto better a nice second home in the Ardennes, than a bigger house in Eindhoven I started to build the house. Through a friend I got the opportunity and the luck to build a house on a plot where he also built a house. And that in my beloved Ardennes, where I have celebrated many beautiful vacations. It gave me a wonderful feeling to have a quiet place at a free travel distance from my own home. So I built the house mainly for my own use or possibly to start a Bed & Breakfast there.’

Financing and building the house across the border. How did you experience that?

‘We soon found out that it was a must to join forces with a Belgian architect. Especially since they have very different regulations and formalities in Belgium. Moreover, many conditions in Belgium are regionally determined and everything is organized just a bit differently than in the Netherlands. Our architect applied for all the permits and prepared the construction. To finance the house, I was obliged to take out the mortgage in Belgium. Fortunately, applying for a mortgage with a Belgian bank is much simpler than in the Netherlands. Far fewer obligations and formalities. Moreover, the interest rate in Belgium is even lower than in the Netherlands. At the moment the interest rate is only 1%.

You chose to build a 100% wheelchair accessible home. Why?

‘The idea of a wheelchair-friendly house came from the experiences of an acquaintance of mine. She herself is less able-bodied and drew my attention to what you have to consider as a wheelchair user. I gratefully accepted and applied the idea. After all, the feeling of someone who is in a wheelchair should not differ from someone who is not in a wheelchair. This feeling was further enhanced because at the time I decided to rent out the house as a vacation home. And if my guests are wheelchair users then I grant these people the same convenience as non-wheelchair users.’

So you decided to rent out the house as a vacation home?

‘Right. The construction of the house stopped for a while. Partly because I sold my business during that time. After some time, I came into contact with Belvilla’s Ardennes specialist. He gave me a forecast and a return calculation in case I would rent out the house as a vacation home. He calculated a net price that I could receive as a landlord. On that basis I dared to go ahead with the construction.

And did that return calculation come true?

‘More than! Even in the first year, the return was much higher than previously estimated. I knew right away that I had to go with a rental agency like Belvilla to have everything well taken care of and so naturally get sufficient coverage. But that I already had three bookings in the first week that my house came online, we never dared to hope!

What was it like to host the very first guest?

‘Ellie and I were extremely nervous. Of course, it feels very crazy to drive away while strangers are left in your house. The house that was just finished and that we are so proud of! Afterwards, it was all not too bad. The guests had had a great time and everything looked neat upon completion. We are now in our third year of renting out La Salutation through Belvilla and we really enjoy it. Apart from the money we earn from it, we more than get back the energy we put into it. The nice contact with our guests and the many enthusiastic stories we hear do us good. We enjoy it when people feel at home and have a nice stay. In short, a warm investment and we have a great activity to boot.

In conclusion. What tips do you have for Second Home visitors considering renting out a second home as a vacation home?

1. Learn from the tips in the book ‘Living and buying in Belgium’.

‘A vacation home is not just a romantic picture. You have to be vigilant and find the mix between investing and earning back. But if renting it out goes well, it’s a hot investment and not a cool bank account. AND, of course, it pays off more. The book ‘Living and buying in Belgium’ helped me enormously. Both during construction and when I decided to rent out the house.

2. Give your guests a warm welcome

The fact that my guests rate their stay so highly has everything to do with the fact that my guests always come first. The vacation experience begins upon arrival with a warm welcome and a bottle of wine. I receive all my guests myself, tell them a little about the area and give them a tour.

3. Think about comfort, don’t skimp on furnishings

I didn’t skimp on the interior. We have two Auping beds because they allow the back to be raised so you can read in bed, for example, and we have two extra long box springs for tall people. In my opinion, the comfort of the house determines for 50% the vacation experience. I really see that reflected in the positive reviews I receive. Incidentally, I actively ask my guests how they experienced their stay. I learn from this. For example, I received the suggestion to install a bathtub, which I did last year. Literally a warm investment for my guests, which I am sure I have earned back quickly.’

Source: Belvilla