Duco Maison
SVFREN
Get started
Project management in Languedoc, in English

Your project management in Languedoc, in English.

We find local tradespeople for you, get quotes, approve and follow up the work, with two project managers on the team, one Swedish and one French. Want regular home watching too when you're not there? It can be added on. No language barriers, unclear invoices, or surprises.

Book a free introductory visit See pricing
David in a window with blue shutters on a stone house in Languedoc

Why Duco Maison

No other provider in the area offers this, for five concrete reasons.

1

Two project managers, Swedish and French

David leads the work from the Swedish side. Eric, the team's French project manager, with years of his own renovation experience in southern France, handles contact with local tradespeople in their own language. You never need to explain yourself in a second language, and tradespeople never misunderstand what's being asked.

2

Craftsmanship know-how, not just logistics

We've built our own house and run a real joinery workshop in Languedoc. We can tell if a job was actually done well, not just whether it got done.

3

Built for homeowners, not landlords

We don't target rental operations. We're here for you if you want the house in top shape when you arrive yourselves, with reliable project management on the ground between visits.

4

Transparent pricing, no surprises

A clear coordination scale, known in advance, on any work commissioned, and a fixed annual price for home watching. You know exactly what applies without requesting a new quote every time.

5

Real project management experience

David has several years of experience as a project manager building exhibition stands around the world, from drawing and design to ordering, supplier contact and procurement. Eric likewise has long project management experience from his own career, and has carried out a major renovation of his own house, today one of the finest in the village. The same approach and eye for quality, applied to your house.

View over tiled roofs and pine trees in a Languedoc village

Your house in France should feel like a dream, not a worry.

The scent of lavender, the sound of cicadas, a village where time moves slower. We exist so that feeling is never clouded by wondering how the house is really doing while you're back home.

Project management, our main service

Need a tradesperson or help keeping track of a larger project? We find local tradespeople for you, get quotes, approve and follow up the work, for a known coordination scale on the supplier's invoice. Works as a fully standalone service, no watching plan required.

Invoice sizeOur coordination fee
Up to €50020%
€500–2,00015%
Over €2,00010%

Fixed and clear, always known in advance. The bigger the job, the lower the percentage we take.

Two examples
Pool filter, €300 invoice → 20% coordination fee = €60
Roof replacement, €8,000 invoice → 10% coordination fee = €800

We never receive money on behalf of the tradesperson, you pay them directly. Our fee is only payment for our own work finding tradespeople, getting quotes, approving and following up.

Home watching, as an add-on

Want regular home watching too when you're not there? Three fixed annual prices, with the number of visits that suits you. We plan a schedule together with you for the year, and adjust it if your travel patterns change.

4 visits/year

1,020 EUR/yr
  • Suits you if you're on site for most of the year yourselves
  • Check for damage, leaks, mail and signs of break-in
  • Forwarding of important mail when needed
  • Photo report with a short summary after each visit
Most popular

6 visits/year

1,200 EUR/yr
  • Suits you if you're here for a shorter season, e.g. one summer month
  • Everything in the 4-visit package

8 visits/year

1,380 EUR/yr
  • Roughly every six weeks, year-round
  • Suits you if you're rarely on site yourselves
  • Everything in the other packages

A fixed annual price, no matter which months the visits actually happen, can be paid in full or spread monthly. We plan together which months suit best based on when you're there yourselves, and move individual visits if needed. An extra thorough check before seasonal opening/closing can always be added separately.

Included in all three packages
Visits with photo report per your annual planYes
Personal customer portal with photo reports and meter historyYes
Contact in case of urgent issuesYes
Access to our supplier network when neededYes
Payment by card or SEPA direct debit, no invoices to chaseYes

We care about your privacy. Photos and other documentation from your visits are never shared with anyone other than you as the property owner.

Your own portal, around the clock

You never need to wonder how the house is doing. After every visit, everything is gathered in your personal portal: photo reports, electricity and water meter readings (and pool pH if you have a pool) with automatic comparison to the previous visit, so you see immediately if anything has changed. No meter readings to interpret yourself, we read them and keep track for you. See the full visit history, what's planned ahead, and the status of any renovation projects, all in one place. Need an extra visit beyond your plan? Book and pay for it directly in the portal. No login details to remember, a simple link in the email is enough. Included in all three packages.

Basic Pool Care, from €240/year

Have a pool? We skim off leaves and debris, empty skimmer and pump baskets, check the water level, inspect the pump and filter, and measure pH which is logged in your report. Chemical balancing and repairs are instead handled via project management, with a local pool company. Price follows your watching level: €240/300/360 per year at 4/6/8 visits a year.

The price above applies to our core zone (the Béziers/Narbonne belt). For houses further away, we give a fixed price at first contact, no hidden distance surcharges later.

How it works

Free introductory visit

We go through your needs together and set a plan.

Project management when needed

If a tradesperson is needed, we handle the contact and keep track of the job.

Home watching as an add-on

Want regular home watching too, we choose an annual price together, payment by card.

Ongoing reports

You get a short report with photos after each watching visit.

Exterior of David and Emelie's house on Vrångö in evening light Front door and steps at the house entrance Window reveal with wallpaper and a chair in the hallway Staircase in the hallway with a bouquet of flowers Kitchen with a sink and windows facing the garden Freshly baked bread on the kitchen island Pantry with spices and preserving jars Living room with a piano and a dog on the rug Bathroom with a herringbone tile floor Bedroom with a floral wallpaper pattern David in a freshly painted room during the renovation Living room with high ceilings and large windows David renovating the attic floor together with a colleague Children's room with a bed canopy Evening groundwork ahead of construction
1 / 15

About us

We're a Swedish family who moved to Languedoc and already run Nordhand, a joinery workshop that renovates shutters for Scandinavian homeowners in the region. Duco Maison is the same care for craftsmanship and honesty, applied to the whole house, not just the shutters.

David has several years of background as a project manager building exhibition stands around the world, with everything that involves, from drawing and design to ordering, supplier contact and procurement. That's exactly the skill set needed to hold a house together from a distance, not something we picked up along the way. Together with Eric, the team's French project manager, who handles contact with local tradespeople on the ground and in their own language, you get two project managers, one on each side of the language.

We know what Scandinavian homeowners expect from finished work, and we know what it feels like to sit at home wondering how the house in France is really doing. That's precisely the worry we exist to remove.

Already a Nordhand customer (formerly Volets France)? You already know us, get in touch and we'll set up the home watching at the same time.
Book directly

Book a free introductory visit

Fill in your details, then optionally pick an available time on the right, a single button at the bottom sends it all.

Loading available times...
Product tips

Product tips for a French house

A research-based list of products that suit life in a French house. The links are affiliate links, it costs you nothing extra but gives us a small share of the purchase.

Show product tips

Lighting & wrought iron

  • Applique murale rétro industriel, fer forgé, cage diamant Se produkten
  • Applique murale extérieure fer forgé, IP44, E27, verre Se produkten
  • Lanterne extérieure rustique en fer forgé, design vintage Se produkten
  • Étagère murale ronde rétro en fer forgé industriel, 6 tiers Se produkten

Table linen & textiles

  • Nappe provençale, olivmotiv, 2m40 x 1m48, anti-tache Se produkten
  • Nappe provençale rund, anti-tache, 160 cm Se produkten
  • Nappe glycine et lavande, 2m40 x 1m50 Se produkten
  • Coussin lavande de Provence "Sweet Dreams" (2-pack) Se produkten

Bed linen

  • MATT & ROSE housse de couette 100 % lin lavé, 240x220 Se produkten
  • Homescapes parure de lit lin lavé, 200x200 + 2 taies Se produkten

Kitchen & table

  • Le Creuset cocotte fonte, rund, "Bleu Marseille", 22 cm Se produkten
  • vancasso BONBON table service in ceramic, 24 pieces, vintage rustic style Se produkten

Garden & outdoor living

  • Siena Conca Classica Toscana: XXL terracotta pot, frost-resistant Se produkten
  • Biscottini Orcio: terracotta amphora pot, 46x34x36 cm Se produkten
  • Fermob bistrostol, "Naturel" Se produkten
  • Fermob round bistro table, 96 cm, "Réglisse" Se produkten
  • Engelhart luxury petanque set in a wooden box, 6 balls Se produkten
  • XXL lounge set in synthetic rattan, TecTake, 6 seats, sofa+armchairs+table ~800-1200 EUR Se produkten
  • vidaXL 8-piece lounge set with cushions, synthetic rattan ~800-1200 EUR Se produkten

Wall decor

  • Vintage resposter "Provence France", canvas, 60x90 cm Se produkten
  • Vintage resposter "Aix en Provence", canvas, 50x75 cm Se produkten

Bain nordique / wood-fired hot tub

The French equivalent of the sauna.

  • FinnTherm bain nordique, 180x101 cm, 5-6 people, with steps ~1500-2500 EUR Se produkten
  • FinnTherm Bergen barrel bath, 160x110 cm, 22kW stainless steel stove, 3-4 people ~2000-3000 EUR Se produkten
  • Arebos inflatable spa, 6 people, 130 massage jets, heated ~500-800 EUR Se produkten

Pool

  • Piscine bois hors-sol K2O, 655x390x124 cm, with sand filter and ladder ~3000-5000 EUR Se produkten
  • Piscine bois Waterclip SABTANG, octagonal, 510x320x129 cm ~2500-4000 EUR Se produkten

Pizza oven & plancha

The French answer to the barbecue.

  • Parkland wood-fired outdoor oven, portable, pizza and BBQ ~150-300 EUR Se produkten
  • GYMAX pizza oven, wood/pellet, thermometer, up to 450°C ~150-250 EUR Se produkten
  • Royal Catering plancha gaz inox, professional, 60 cm, 2 zones ~300-600 EUR Se produkten
  • Happybuy plancha inox, 91x56 cm, universal with grease channel ~150-250 EUR Se produkten

Fire pit (brasero)

  • Brasero/plancha corten steel "Lou Provencau", wood storage, grill included ~250-450 EUR Se produkten
  • MOODZ corten steel brasero, Ø100 cm, 3mm thickness ~250-400 EUR Se produkten

Bioclimatic pergola

  • Bioclimatic pergola, sweeek, 3x3 m, adjustable louvres, aluminium/steel ~1500-2500 EUR Se produkten
  • Alice's Garden bioclimatic pergola, anthracite, 3x3 m, adjustable louvres ~1500-2500 EUR Se produkten

Moroccan furnishings

Handmade leather poufs and mosaic tables.

  • Pouf marrakchi, äkta läder, handmade in Marrakech by Moroccan craftsmen ~80-150 EUR Se produkten
  • ALMADIH Moroccan pouf, genuine leather, handmade in Marrakech ~80-150 EUR Se produkten
  • Casa Moro round mosaic table, enamelled black/white, wrought-iron stand, dining-table size ~250-450 EUR Se produkten
  • Casa Moro round mosaic table Ø60 cm, enamelled white ~150-250 EUR Se produkten
  • "Marrakech" round mosaic coffee table, Ø80 cm, blue/yellow ~150-250 EUR Se produkten
  • "Marrakech" foldable mosaic dining table, 120x80 cm, rectangular ~300-500 EUR Se produkten
  • albena Marokko Galerie round mosaic table Ø80 cm, green/white ~150-250 EUR Se produkten

Wine fridge / wine cellar

  • Kalamera wine fridge, 45 bottles, dual temperature zones, 120L ~300-450 EUR Se produkten
  • Cavist CVST24 wine fridge, 24 bottles, dual zones, stainless steel, UV-protected glass door ~250-400 EUR Se produkten

Awning

  • VEVOR manual awning, 4x2.4 m, crank-operated ~200-350 EUR Se produkten

Heating & cooling

For Languedoc's hot summers and cold stone walls in winter.

  • Klarstein Kraftwerk Smart portable air conditioner, 10,000 BTU, app & Alexa ~300-450 EUR Se produkten
  • Cecotec EnergySilence Aero 4850 ceiling fan, 122 cm, remote control, summer/winter mode ~80-130 EUR Se produkten
  • Purline RAFY 220 evaporativ luftkylare, high capacity for large rooms ~200-350 EUR Se produkten
  • Supra Leïos Pierre pelletskamin, automatisk temperaturreglering, vecko-/dagsprogrammering ~1500-2500 EUR Se produkten

Smart controls

For when you're not always on site.

  • Netatmo Thermostat Connecté, control the heating from your phone wherever you are ~150-200 EUR Se produkten
  • X-Sense wireless water leak detector with base station, larm + appnotis ~80-120 EUR Se produkten
  • TP-Link HS110 smart eluttag, wifi, scheduling and energy monitoring ~20-35 EUR Se produkten
  • TP-Link Tapo C310 utomhuskamera, wifi, 30m night vision, motion alerts in the app ~35-50 EUR Se produkten

Building conservation

Breathable, traditional materials for old stone houses.

  • PRB Fleur de Chaux, natural breathable lime render, 4 kg ~20-35 EUR Se produkten
  • Onyx wood linseed oil, 100% linseed, made in France, for shutters and outdoor wood ~15-30 EUR Se produkten
  • Arcane Industries Imperfacade Hydro, water repellent for stone/brick/render façades ~30-60 EUR Se produkten
  • Arcane Industries Badigeon à la chaux, traditional lime paint for indoor and outdoor use ~25-45 EUR Se produkten

Ornaments

  • Bougeoir mural in wrought iron, decorative candle holder Se produkten
  • TERESA'S COLLECTIONS ceramic vases, rustic style, set of 3 Se produkten
  • Guirlande guinguette outdoor 20m, LED, waterproof Se produkten
  • Miroir soleil in wrought iron, European style Se produkten

Household essentials

No need to lug the heavy stuff home from the shop.

By chatting with our AI assistant Jean-Claude, you agree that your messages may be processed by AI, in order to answer your question and keep notes for us. Read more in our privacy policy.