Planning Your Viewing Itinerary
When you see a property you like
Negotiating a Purchase Price
If you have not read about how Latitudes will help you find houses in France for sale that suit your needs, please see Using Latitudes for your Property Search. This page provides information on how Latitudes French Property Agency can take the hard work out of finding properties, land and houses for sale in France.
Once you have made a selection of properties you wish to view, it is time to contact Latitudes to arrange your French house viewing Itinerary. There are also some personal and practical measures you should take to organise your French house hunting trip.
Planning Your Viewing Itinerary
Latitudes will advise you about the distances and time involved between agencies in different towns. We have done all these journeys ourselves when we have been to meet and vet the agents, so we know how long the journey will take you.
Avoid putting yourself under so much pressure that by the time you get to the appointment you are so stressed at getting lost, being late or not having had time for lunch that you are in no mood to make decisions or consider properties carefully. Remember that in France the pace is slower, presumably one of the reasons you would like to spend more time there, so don’t expect your agent to show you things ‘on the run’.
When you see a property you like: legal process
Hopefully the time will come when you see a property that you do want to buy. If the property is new, then usually no negotiation will be possible and you will proceed by confirming that you would like to reserve whereupon a reservation contract will be prepared for you.
If it is a resale property then you may want to put in a lower offer. Making a verbal offer is not binding and the agent must then go to the vendor to try to negotiate the price you have offered.
When the offer is agreed a ‘compromis de vente’ (contract) will be prepared and both parties will need to sign.
You get a 7 day cooling off period on any contract that you sign. You would then need to send your deposit which is normally 10% on a resale purchase and up to 5% on an off-plan purchase.
Negotiating a Purchase Price
You may feel more comfortable either calling Latitudes to negotiate on your behalf or coming home before making any offers or decisions. Be aware that properties in France are sold as soon as the first contract is signed and this can happen immediately someone views the property, so if you have found a property that you may want it is essential you declare your interest whilst still in France either to the agent who has shown you the property or to Latitudes who will communicate this to the French agency.
As your purchase progresses Latitudes can be invaluable in answering all the little questions that pop up and will follow the sale with the French agent and your solicitor or notaire to bring it to a happy conclusion.
If you are buying property in France and looking for the right houses for sale in France for you, contact Latitudes now.
You may find the following articles useful too to read more about Latitudes other services and how we can help you to find the French house of your dreams.
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Homes in France for Sale | Buying Property in France | French Houses |
