1. Does the property have a pool (fenced if possible)? If not, make sure there is a handy, decent, beach near by.

2. The ideal number of bedrooms is two or three. Large properties sell well only during school holidays, but a couple will often rent a two-bedroom house outside peak season. The number of four and five-bedroom properties for rent in the Dordogne has reached “saturation level”, according to Carol Bowhill.

3. In a two-room property, put a double bed in one and twin beds in the other. Better still, buy zip and lock beds to reconfigure as required.

4. You can earn more if you rent the property yourself, by word of mouth, or selling direct through holiday brochures such as Chez Nous and Brittany Ferries’ Owners in France. But do you want the hassle? Companies such as Bowhills charge about 35 per cent commission. A good standard property can earn £15,000 a year for a 16-week let. June lets better than September, with peak season the first two weeks of August.

5. Bathrooms, bathrooms and more bathrooms make a holiday so much easier. And a good kitchen if possible — 75 per cent of holiday bookings are made by women.

6. Everyone dreams of a rural idyll, but it’s not so idyllic to have to drive everywhere for a croissant or meal. Walking distance from the village shops is a big plus.

7. Granny’s old sofa doesn’t look so great to prospective renters. It is often the brochure photography that will sell a villa.

8. Buy a property within a comfortable drive of at least two airports. If an airline axes one service, you have a back-up.

9. Find out about potential developments in the area around your property. It would be a shame to lose the view you bought the place for in the first place.

10. Get ready to work. Bowhills sends out a form to owners with a checklist of 175 points. Owners must fill out the form and provide pictures, a process that rejects one-third of applicants. On a ground visit, owners will be encouraged to improve particular points or provide more facilities.