Multiple Agencies will advertise the house but the one who sells it gets the commission. If one of the Agencies had an exclusive (or semi-exclusive) mandate other agencies can request to split the commission if they bring the buyer - this is called an Inter-cabinet, it happens occasionally but not that often.
1 Like
Ah, but not at lunchtime and certainly not during May.
3 Likes
Surely it’s the size of the commission in France? In the UK at least, estate agents earn comparatively much less on each sale.
1 Like
I know what you are getting at… but the local Immo’s are open… yes, even this month !!!
Didn’t expect so many comments! I come back to my original point…WHY do they have a contact form on their website if they don’t respond!!! I still design websites (UK clients…) and I always stress that if they want a contact form on their website they must check it and answer within 24 hours…else it does more harm to reputation than good.
2 Likes
lunchtime is almost sacrosanct… and with good reason… one must take one’s time to enjoy one’s food… 
1 Like
Never quite understood that…for me I would prefer to take one hour lunch and finish at 6pm…
1 Like
I don’t know 
I find lots of French companies’ websites lacking compared to those from other countries. I seriously think that Minitel having been so popular originally somehow held back initially the adoption of the internet in France, and it’s been on the back foot since.
I’m not sure it’s a hill worth dying on though. Yes it’s frustrating, yes they should be proactive, yes they may lose a sale in your case… Ultimately, though, it’s a battle you’ll not win. For your own sanity I’d suggest calling the estate agents in your preferred area and asking “est-ce que vous parlez anglais?”
1 Like
But you presumably are not French? This is not directed just at you but it is a bit odd when people move countries and then want a lot of things to be just like they were in their original country. It’s a package, with good bits and less good ones depending on your personal point of view. I used to go to Paris for work from time to time, and stopping for a proper lunch was an infinite pleasure compared to eating a sandwich at my computer.
5 Likes
I am not decrying it…just stating my own preferences…prefer to get home to my family earlier in the evening.
1 Like
TBH many businesses of all types in the UK don’t have anyone processing contact forms from their website either.
2 Likes
Must say a littke odd. I had exactly the same approach mid 2022 and all responded within a couple of days max, always by phone. That might be the peoblem. Having said that, some went all cold because I hadn’t yet sold my property even though I made offer at asking price. Got fed up and put my place on market and sold within days. It turns out they had wanted me to buy AND sell through them. I know you wrote you’ve sold but this is just to give you more knowledge about estate agents wierd ways here in France. By the way, I am French bit also have experience of buying & selling in UK. Chalk & cheese. My last sale in UK, I has 3 estates agents battling for visits within first 24H! I guess all this doesn’t really help you. As others have said on this post, buyers are often not taken very seriously. Many French people waste their time because they are nosey or have nothing better to do. You have to go in person once it seels worth visiting but I managed to clarify basics by phone. Be careful as details on internet are often not very accurate. Good luck anyway, I feel for you.
2 Likes
Perhaps that’s the answer? Most immos don’t want the problem of conversing with someone who doesn’t speak French?
Welcome, @frenchy !
Sadly I think, no I strongly feel you are right. It goes even further. It’s amazing what better service you get if you can show local links. I suggest to make some up! Like you’ve got friends or family locally. They’ll see you as having a bit of inside knowledge, know-how and more serious about choosing this area. That’s my top tip!
4 Likes
Interesting, because that’s what we did - we didn’t actually need to make the friends up (and one of those had a local roofing business) - thanks!
And Mrs P rang them up, which again must have helped.
We experienced this from a selling point of view. Like you, I replied to contact forms on their own websites and got no response, so they lost a possible sale. Went to the local branch of one of them and said we had e-mailed but received a ‘look’ and no comment. They faffed about putting the house up for sale and when it had not sold in 5 weeks asked us to lower the price again. The only immo that has brought clients said the price was not the problem but that the other immo was looking for an easy ride. It is still for sale but unfortunately, not in the Brive area.
Best of luck with your search.
You wonder how they ever do any business. I have learned that it’s no good at all asking questions on the contact form. I always say to write not phone because I a hard of hearing! They always tip up on the phone next day and start askinga dozen questions about you are looking for. They have no inking about the questions you asked about the property you enquired about. I think a phone call is the only way and ry 'parlez vous anglais SVP" to kick off and they often do even if it’s as bad as your French. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can arrange a day or 2 of inspections because they will always co?? it up. I spent 4 days ferrying a friend around and we have some 25 properties on our list but just saw 4 with the agents. We found something from the local free newspaper !
Maybe useful ''no guarantees though) English Speaking Estate Agents and Property Consultants in France
Your experience is not dissimilar, although our list is not long!
The list is useful - I will browse through this weekend although none seem to cover Brive specifically. One name I recognised was Richard Immobilier SARL who covers around Eymet.
He is English…and used to work for Beaux Villages before obviously starting out on his own (good choice…)… he showed me one property which was lovely but a bit small and no land…he was very helpful in trying to find out about the surrounding land but to no avail. Recommended
Are you judging French estate agents to a different standard to English ones? I can’t imagine getting an English agent to clear his diary for a day or more on the offchance that a French buyer would buy a house at the end of it! (Nor are there many English agents who speak good French: I’d hazard a guess that, overall, more immos speak English than estate agents speak French!)
6 Likes