I assume that most UK buyers would look at Leggett’s.
However how many French buyers would?
I’d be inclined to put on with Leggett’s plus a local French agent, and possibly one other large French company.
Through the notaires lists.
1 Like
Isn’t the more important thing to avoid giving exclusive rights to sell to any agent? otherwise your long lost friend pitches up and wants to buy it, you owe all commissions to any agent whose wording gave them exclusive selling rights that you signed
Why? We never did as thought they generally over-priced houses. We looked at local estate agents in the area we wanted to live in, plus personal ads.
Good point!
Regardless, the vendor is responsible unless they have a bonafide diagnostic written-out and signed.
Why does this matter? Because France has had a very great number of houses being sold that were unfit to live in. (Unfit being defined by the government.)
So, it instituted the necessity for having the diagnostic from a professional. The house itself and its electricity are considered as separate diagnostics requiring separate talents.
The law also institutes the fact that the Notaire is responsible for assuring that the diagnostic was done. Here is the link to the article published by the Notary-site in France: Le diagnostic immobilier : quand, comment, qui paye ? | Notaires de France
1 Like
Giving exclusive rights-to-sell to just one Agency has its hazards that can lead to legal-problems. One is wiser to have at least two or three but not more.
Selling property has two means - by registered-agents or by yourself (best done on English speaking websites). Of course, the seller takes full responsibility for assuring that all the necessary diagnostics are done. (Ask your notaire who can advise you.)
And make sure that you sell-independently (in French if you speak French) as well. The lower price (less agency-fees) is important nowadays …
Explain please
I would sincerely like that to be, but it aint! There are a number of agencies who, in dire need nowadays of a sale, that will do almost anything to get it rather than close their doors.
Which is why the law that requires full-reporting in the form of a diagnostic is Really Good News. Because I’ve seen first-hand what it was like to sell a property before diagnostic reporting became law.
Why? The French and European market is so much bigger!
And you live in France!?! It is one of the most excessively regulated nations in Europe. And all for what? Nada!
The regulatory systems are pitifully complex - because they made an effort to do so - thus looking “professional”. But, when it comes to actually employing them, very often they are impossible to implement or extremely costly to do so. The older the house, the more difficult it will be to sell very often once “diagnosticated”.
Some people want to buy cheap so they take the “old house” route and end up ultimately paying far, far more than they ever imagined.
I would not do that without knowing the exact nature of the property and getting a renewal estimate (based upon the diagnostics) from a company competent in rebuilding old property.
I.e., caveat emptor …
But the universal language of those willing to live abroad is typically English. Of a variety of kinds, but nonetheless English. Even the French speak English when they are living in the US/UK!
(Will wonders never cease … ? ;^)
I’m really not getting your logic 
? There are in the region of 100,000 houses sold in France every year, mainly to French people of whom there are over 60 million. All of whom speak French. As do the Belgians and Swiss who buy houses here too.
So why complicate matters by wanting to sell to anglophone foreigners? Even if they are “willing” to live abroad. With that sort of attitude they can stay put wherever they are!
3 Likes
I’m not so sure it’s “complicating matters” so much as attempting to fleece unsuspecting Anglophones into buying overpriced wrecks which the more savvy French, Belgians and Swiss will avoid like the plague 
3 Likes
I know of one French family who’ve done up their home. It is lovely, but they plan to move away in a few years (for family reasons)…
Anyway, they told me that they’ll sell it to The English as they are the only ones prepared to pay a decent sum (and the family want to get their money back…).
That won’t fit with the Brit mythology that you can buy a French château in need only of a lick of paint for £10 and two packets of Walker’s crisps.
1 Like
They might be disappointed! With the way the pound has been (although not as bad right now) Brits are looking for bargains! Round our way people market to the Swiss as they generally have more money.
It’s not that so much Jane as the value of their properties, especially if they live in London or the South East. They can get so much for the place they currently own in the UK that French property looks incredibly cheap. They may not appreciate that they will probably spend as much again on restoring it, but that’s another issue.
4 Likes
must confess the house they will eventually be selling… is really gloriously renovated.
Actually, I’m wondering if they will be changing their plans and staying on here… so much is happening in France today, who knows what the future will bring.
I found this on the internet, and it makes sense: [7 critères pour choisir un inspecteur en bâtiment] (Comment trouver un bon inspecteur en bâtiment? | XpertSource.com).
Shop around for pricing (in French) employing this: “Inspecteur en bâtiment à 32000” (insert the five-digit mail code for your town). See what comes up.
1 Like
?? That being the normal language of the US/UK, it would be surprising if they didn’t.
The real problem is people from the US/UK assuming we all want to or are capable of speaking English in France.
3 Likes