Joff Hatfield-Powell is the executive producer of the Chateau DIY franchise and was co-author of Money-Maker, our resident valuer and columnist, Dan Hatfield's, debut book. Property investment is something many This is Money readers will be all too familiar with, but did you know that you could buy a castle in France for the average price of a UK home?.
![[Imposing: French chateaux - like this one featured in the upcoming series - can be magnificent and come with dramatic scenery]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/11/93190295-14197043-Imposing_French_chateaux_like_this_one_featured_in_the_upcoming_-a-21_1734348060182.jpg)
In September 2024, the average price of a house in England was £309,000 (up £8,000 from the earlier year according to ons.gov.uk) and that same amount of money in France could make you the King or Queen of your very own castle. As the executive producer of channel 4's smash hit, Chateau DIY, I have seen so many intrepid people invest in chateaux. But whilst the relatively low initial outlay may sound tempting, turning this investment into a profit will take more than just a bit of elbow grease.
![[A lot of work: The character properties have sometimes been neglected for decades]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/11/93190179-14197043-A_lot_of_work_The_character_properties_have_sometimes_been_negle-a-22_1734348066365.jpg)
Chateau DIY launched on Channel 4 in 2021 following the huge success of Escape to the Chateau and Escape to the Chateau DIY. Both tiles were created by Spark Media Partners, the production entity founded by Mark Baker and Steve Havers. They, along with series director Paul Compton and head of production Helen Morrell, developed and produced the first seasons of the primetime hit and the daytime spin-off which continued for 7 and 3 seasons, respectively.
![[Know what you're getting into: Most owners need to start a business to fund the renovations]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/11/93190177-14197043-Know_what_you_re_getting_into_Most_owners_need_to_start_a_busine-a-23_1734348072115.jpg)
Kings of the castle: Terry and Ashley, two of the buyers featured in Channel 4's Chateau DIY At Christmas, which follows more ambitious people renovating castles in France. In 2020 I worked with Channel 4 to rebrand the daytime title to celebrate a wealth of new, brave people giving up their lives in the UK and investing their life savings into these magnificent properties. But for anyone whose watched the show, owning and renovating these enormous properties comes at quite the cost.
![[Making it work: Stephanie is another of the buyers featured in Chateau DIY]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/11/93190187-14197043-Making_it_work_Stephanie_is_another_of_the_buyers_featured_in_Ch-a-24_1734348078685.jpg)
