Notaire wants me there in person as there are issues with a neighbour who has built, without consent & slightly obstructs the view from the kitchen window…
I could see a slightly blocked outlook, but it didn’t stop me wanting to buy.
There is an order from the prefecture telling them to take this concrete structure down, dated April 2025…they have done nothing so far.
It’s a pain to have to travel down there just to discuss this issue, but I can understand the notaire wanting us there in person, with a translator.…Sorry, just venting, I’m still set on buying, but wondering about reducing my offer price.
Hmmm even if you could live with that particular partially blocked view what does that say about the neighbour? Proceed with caution. Did you make any more general enquiries round the neigbourhood ? Have there been any disputes involving this neighbour? @Stella
Notaire is theoretically neutral. Gut feeling either a very cautious notaire in insisting on a translator…. but the insistence on your presence in conjunction and this matter being discussed could mean a flag is being waved in your direction to the extent possible?
Does that neighbour have any other neighbours or just you?
I flagged Stella on last post as she knows about this kind of stuff
I’ll read the draft compromis tomorrow, no sign of it yet…I’m happy with a cautious notaire
There are several neighbours as it’s a house built in 1703 with multiple properties surrounding it…they all appear well tended & not holiday homes. We will see.
Please be careful, the neighbor could be a longlasting problem! I do realize you are so focused on the house…. Please consider taking a long look at that neighbor.
The more I read about this property the more inclined I am to suggest you walk away.
Frankly the Seller has not been open/honest with you, which does not fill me with confidence.
However, from what you say, you are set on buying it, no matter what
In which case, I suggest you offer the Seller a large reduction in the price, due to the existing problem with neighbour, which could well involve more than “a slightly blocked outlook”.
That illegal building should be demolished, so perhaps Completion of the Sale can wait until then??
Must confess this whole affair has me wondering what the future holds and what other nasties might be waiting to be discovered.
But only you know how you really feel about the situation, so I am stepping back and leaving you to ponder and discuss with the Notaire.
Steve. First Congrats. I just went thru this process in Beziers. Signed on Oct 16th.
You can do it by POA. (Power of Attorney).
Did you do an inspection ? We did. Our guy took 3 days and it was worth it. We purchased a townhouse in city center - approx 3600 SF. We work in real estate in Manhattan so we understand the importance
I don’t know your story or what you are buying so I cannot counsel you On whether it would apply or not. Are there contingencies in the offer etc. I would be happy to speak to you offline if you would like My contact is Debra.LaChance@compasd.com
We had contingencies that apply to installing a/c and some other important things. Also We are doing some work and we got the seller to agree to pass her rights to us to apply for the permits ahead of the closing. So we reduce our renovation time line.
I used a translator but I he was a recommendation from a friend who lives in Beziers. He charged $200 Euros. He was very helpful not just for the translation but for his wisdom of all things real estate and much more.
anyway - I would be happy to speak to you offline if you would like My contact is Debra.LaChance@compasd.com
Hello Debra, it’s kind of you to want to help but please note you are posting your email on an open forum which can be seen worldwide. You are inviting spam. If you don’t mind, ok. otherwise I suggest you remove it and ask Steve to Private Message you.
We did this about 23 years ago when we bought our pied-à-terre in Corsica. We bought all the furniture and they were not included in the value of the property itself. It saved a bit on the charges and notary fees. Perfectly legit I believe.
Someone above posted that the Dutch take their flooring with them…they are tight, but this I have not seen myself.
Common in new builds in NL to by ‘casco’…just the shell and you get a small allowance for the flooring and even wall and ceiling finishes (so…no plaster on walls or even ceiling. No kitchen either.
All makes sense in a way because most places sell even before they are out of the ground giving time to do a fit out to taste rather than getting some awful spec built cheap crapolla fitted whch will invariably end up in a skip.
And true that traditionally, the Germans take their kitchens with them hence for the German staff we had with fiscal privileges, their kitchens were tax exempt in NL.
The Dutch have a habit of taking all of the light fittings and even armatures with them….must be a throwback from the occupation when window shutters were taken for storage or whatever…
There…you have it just incase you are going to move to NL in the near future.
It was me, when my son’s mil moved into her new rental they’d removed the flooring, and I think maybe the kitchen too. Son’s place had both, but a private rental.
Surely electronic ignition is used now instead of a distributor?
I watched a youtube clip last night by a plumbing specialist (plumberparts) where he visited a newbuild estate. The walls will all be just painted plasterboard - scrimtape and a quick tidy over joints, filled screwholes, that’s it. I have no wish to live in a house built in my lifetime.
I remember being surprised to see a Dutch family descend on the breakfast buffet table at a B&B at the end of breakfast and take enough food for lunch.
