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Frequently asked questions Do I need to make an appointment to view properties? Yes! Because we normally accompany viewings, and our diaries get full, it is important that you make an appointment in advance - certainly before you book flights. It is also important that you turn up! Why won’t French agents tell us exactly where properties are located? Annoying, isn’t it? But there is a very good reason. Most sellers in France will engage with several agents, so the precise location of a property is potentially valuable information. You will sign a bon de visite when you visit a property with us to acknowledge that you have seen it with us. It obliges you not to divulge this information to any one else, and should you decide to purchase the property, to do so through us. Hopefully that sounds fair! How much are agency fees? Agency fees are calculated as a percentage of the price the owner will receive. They generally vary between 10% for the very cheapest houses to 3% on the most expensive with a minimum fee of 3.900 euros. These fees include VAT and are included in the prices of the house quoted. If you negotiate a cheaper price for the house, the commission reduces accordingly. Why do advertised prices for the same house vary between agents? Generally because different agents have different commission rates. Because we endeavour to be competitive, we feel confident that you won't find our properties cheaper elsewhere - with an English or a French agent. If you do, please let us know! How much are notaires' fees? These are calculated on a sliding scale, as a percentage of the purchase cost. This percentage reduces with the value of the property, so that it is about 10% on a property at 50,000 euros, but only 6% at 200,000 euros. If you want to calculate it more exactly, why not go to www.immobilier.notaires.fr/jahia/Jahia/immobilier/guest/calcul/fraisAcquisition where you can work it out for yourself! Do I need my own notaire? Not necessarily. The house buying process is generally less adversarial than in the UK, with one notaire often taking care of the whole transaction perfectly well. A notaire is supposed to act impartially giving advice to both sides, and suggesting mutually acceptable solutions. He is often chosen by the seller, simply because he will have the seller's dossier, but you have the right to instruct your own notaire. We are always happy to advise you on the choice of a notaire. Do I need a survey? To protect you, the sellers are obliged to furnish the following survey reports: Termites (if the house is in a zone deemed at risk) Asbestos (in any buildings finished before 1997) Lead (in any buildings finished before 1949) Natural and Technological Risks Energy Performance Gas and Electricity Installations If you wish to have the property surveyed in more detail, we would advise you to do so before you sign the compromis, because notaires will not normally allow you to put a suspensive clause into the contract relating to structural faults. You are deemed to be buying the property in the state in which you see it although the seller has a duty to reveal any known faults. We can help you find a surveyor if you wish, but the survey will be at your expense. What about termites? Termites are a growing problem throughout France. To protect the purchaser, the law now decrees that property owners in affected areas must have an inspection to prove that their property is not infected. If termites are found, you have the right either not to purchase the property, to renegotiate the price and put the problem right at your expense, or to purchase it at the agreed price with the owner putting the problem right at his/her expense. Asbestos and Lead The sellers also have to supply recent surveys for lead and asbestos. The lead survey will indicate paintwork containing lead. If any is found, you will be told where it is, the level of lead, and the condition of the paintwork. This is done primarily for information so that you take appropriate precautions so as not to expose yourself or your children to a risk of lead poisoning. Similarly the asbestos survey will indicate any materials likely to contain asbestos and will give an opinion on their condition. Again this is for your information so that you take appropriate precautions when working on the property so as not to expose yourself or your children to a risk of asbestos poisoning, and that is you dispose of the item in question, you do so in a proper manner. Who has a right of pre-emptive purchase? Sometimes the commune or organisations like SAFER have a right of pre-emptive purchase. If this is the case, the notaire will inform you and build a suspensive clause into the sales contract to protect you. What is SAFER? SAFER is an agricultural body with the right to purchase agricultural properties to subsequently sell them on to farmers to preserve the farming industry. If your property is concerned, the notaire will write to them after the compromis has been signed, giving them 2 months to notify him of their wish to buy the property at the same price. Unless you have a prime piece of agricultural land or building at a knockdown price, they are unlikely to intervene. An accelerated request can be made at an additional cost. If they should intervene, then your deposit is refunded. What about tax and inheritance? Tax & inheritance law in France, as in most countries, requires the advice of an expert (not an estate agent!) and is individual to your circumstances. We will be happy to help you consult a notaire or an independent adviser so that you have the advice you need to make the right choice at the time of your purchase. |
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