Is it cheaper to DIY, hire someone, or buy a robot mower?
Owning a second home in France sounds idyllic — until you arrive and the first thing waiting for you is a lawn that needs cutting.
For many expats, the issue is not whether they can mow the lawn themselves. It is whether they really want to spend their time in France doing it. Even a small lawn can become a nuisance if it is left unchecked between visits, especially during the main growing season.
In northern France, grass often starts growing again as early as March, builds through April and May, needs cutting weekly in June and July, may slow in August if the weather turns hot and dry, then still needs regular cutting through September and October.
For this comparison, a realistic working assumption is around 26 cuts a year for a 100m² lawn.
Option 1: Doing it yourself
This is usually the cheapest option in pure cash terms, but it is also the one most likely to eat into your time in France.
A 100m² lawn is not large, but if you only mow when you visit, you are often dealing with grass that is longer, wetter and more uneven than it would be with regular maintenance. That means more effort and less of the quick tidy-up people imagine.
Typical DIY cost for a 100m² lawn
- mower purchase: €250 to €350
- maintenance, blades and consumables: €50 to €80 per year
- fuel/electricity and small supplies: €20 to €30 per year
- occasional extra cost if the lawn gets overgrown: €40 to €80 per year
Estimated total
- Year 1: €360 to €540
- Over 5 years: €800 to €1,300
Time cost
- 12 to 18 hours a year
- 60 to 90 hours over 5 years
DIY works best if you visit often, do not mind mowing, and are not too concerned if the lawn looks rough between visits.
Option 2: Hiring a local pro
For many second-home owners, paying someone locally is the most practical solution.
For a very small lawn, you are not really paying for the square metres — you are paying for someone to turn up regularly. That is why a 100m² lawn can still cost quite a bit over the year if you want it kept tidy throughout the season.
Typical gardener cost for a 100m² lawn
- €25 to €40 per visit
- around 26 visits per year
Estimated total
- Per year: €650 to €1,040
- Over 5 years: €3,250 to €5,200
This is the most expensive option in cash terms, but it gives you consistency and saves your holiday time.
There is also another important advantage to using a self-employed gardener rather than just relying on a mower or doing it yourself: they can often do other small jobs in the garden and act as an extra pair of eyes on the property. If there has been storm damage, vandalism, signs of theft, fallen branches or other visible problems, they may spot it before you arrive. For many expats, that extra reassurance is worth a lot.
A quick word on CESU
You may hear about CESU, which is the French system for declaring and paying someone you employ directly for certain domestic services, including small gardening work.
It is a legitimate system, but for many expats with a second home it is not usually the most practical option, because it means you become the employer. In practice, many second-home owners prefer to use a self-employed gardener or contractor instead, as this usually involves less admin and a simpler arrangement.
If you use a self-employed person, ask for:
- a SIRET number
- proper invoices
- proof of insurance
Option 3: Robot mowers
For a small lawn at a second home, a robot mower is often the most interesting middle-ground option.
Using the current entry-level price of a good-quality robot mower in France as a guide, you are looking at a starting cost of around €649 for a model designed for lawns much larger than 100m².
Typical robot mower cost for a 100m² lawn
- purchase price: about €649
- blades and small upkeep: about €40 per year
Estimated total
- Year 1: about €689
- Over 5 years: about €849
That makes a robot mower:
- more expensive than DIY at the start,
- much cheaper over time than paying a gardener,
- and far less effort than either.
For many expats, that is the sweet spot.
Insurance and theft: keep it simple, but do check
If you install a robot mower at a second home in France, the main thing to remember is that warranty is not the same as insurance. A warranty covers faults with the product. It does not automatically mean protection against theft, vandalism or accidental damage.
The other issue is that with a résidence secondaire, insurance policies may apply different rules if the property is left empty for long periods. So even if outdoor equipment is covered in principle, you still need to check how that works when the house is unoccupied.
Checklist: what to check with your insurer
Before relying on a robot mower at your French second home, check:
- is it covered as garden equipment or outdoor property?
- is theft from the garden covered?
- does the cover apply at a second home?
- is there an inoccupation clause if the house is empty for long periods?
- are there any security requirements?
- would you be paid replacement value or a reduced amount?
That short check is well worth doing before you buy.
Cost comparison at a glance
| Option | Year 1 | 5-year total | Your time | Main advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY | €360–€540 | €800–€1,300 | High | Lowest cash cost |
| Self-employed gardener | €650–€1,040 | €3,250–€5,200 | Very low | Lawn maintained plus extra eyes on the property |
| Robot mower | about €689 | about €849 | Very low, but it depends on the installation method. | Low long-term cost and consistent mowing |
A quick guide to Navimow mowers
If you are considering a Navimow mower, here is a simple guide to the current range.
| Model | Best for | Lawn size | Terrain | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i1 | Small gardens | Up to 600m² | Flat to simple terrain | €649 |
| i2AWD | Small to medium gardens | Up to 960m² | Simple terrain | €1099 |
| i2 LiDAR | Medium gardens | Medium areas | More complex layouts | from €1,099 |
For a typical second home with a modest lawn, the entry-level model is usually the one that makes the most financial sense.
Final thought
For a 100m² lawn at a second home in France, the question is not really whether the lawn is big enough to justify help. It is whether you want to spend your visits mowing it.
If you visit often and do not mind the job, DIY can work. If you want someone local who can also keep an eye on the property, a self-employed gardener can be a very useful option. But if you want a lawn that stays under control with minimal effort, a robot mower is often the most cost-effective long-term choice.
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For more interesting articles about life in France, read our other BLOG articles.