Makes you wonder if the people they’ve got lined up, or are lining up to buy the plots, are aware they have no legal right to sell your land. Great advice from your Notaire and well done you for taking that advice, all too easy to get sucked in if you really want/need to sell.
Good point, Debby. I wonder if they advertised this online?
Hi Jennifer. We did see the front plot advertised on one of their websites for €175,000 but have no idea what the asking price is for the back plot. We should be able to find out when Noémie from the Notaire calls us today. In fact, we wonder if the Notaire even knows that they have sliced and diced the land already. We will have to ask them that as well when she calls. Cheers - Steve
?? Very unusual that an agent will arrange viewings for a place that is ‘sold subject to contract’. You are right that one can, but it’s not an attractive proposition.
You’re right, I may be looking at this the wrong way round. A relative in the UK is selling to downsize and has been let down several times. The last buyers pulled out because they found a place they preferred. My choice after all that might be to continue viewings, if it was allowed.
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If it’s just a plot of land being sold for development, the buyers may not need to physically see it as long as they have the dimensions and are assured the Marie is aware of their plans to build and happy. The chances of the actual owners discovering what’s going on is minimal. All very sneaky and underhand.
Hi Debby. Oh there have been visits by numerous parties over the last few months. Looking at both the front and back plots. In fact, last month a couple arrived with the agent, sat at the back of the plot on one of the picnic tables we have there and had plans for a house to be built on the back plot. They were there for over an hour looking at the plans and then walking around the plot. Then a few days later a guy came around and sprayed the outline of where the land will be split. And here we were thinking this was a normal part of the process!
I think you’ve been very tolerant. These people don’t yet own the property and are showing round prospective buyers? They’re doing everything to minimise the financial risk to themselves by not waiting until the sale is finalised and have just tried to transfer more risk by suggesting you wait longer to be paid.
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Wow, they have some brass neck!, at least you know what’s going on now and that’s the only thing that matters. If this all falls through the chances of it happening again are unlikely and you’ll be on your a game.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that it all comes out well for you.
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I have to say I am hhorrified by reading what the OP has posted. What the hell are these people thinking? They have no rights to do anything except make enquiries with local authorities about future possible uses ONCE they have signed the final acte de vente and paid over the monies in FULL. I would wonder what the Notaire is doing too, sounds like a commercial project so if it were me, I would put a halt to this nonsense unless they come up with all the asking price in full and no compromises. If they are serious, they will find a solution.
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If they have the cheek to bring anyone else, you need to go out immediately and introduce yourselves as the owners of the properties and get involved in all the discussions. I’d leave them in no doubt that I and only I have the legal right to sell any of the properties to them at this point.
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If they don’t cough up I would jump at Notaires offer to sell the three plots. Your home has been desecrated now, so you might as well profit from it as imagine selling the three plots separately would be more profitable.
There are times when spread payments work, but this is not one of them!
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Great idea, Debby. I wouldn’t want to cross you. 
Maybe it’s the French mentality about houses. Some French friends recently sold a holiday home that belonged to the wife’s parents. They accepted an offer from French people who eventually dropped out because they couldn’t get a mortgage but took ages to admit that.
When our friends went back to the house, the failed buyers had started redecorating and treating the place as if it was theirs. They hadn’t even done it very well, so our friends had to make the place presentable again.
We have just spoken to Noémie at the Notaires office and a very strongly worded letter has been sent to us to sign and then send to the Agent tomorrow via registered post. It basically says, nope, we do not agree to the suggested changes and that they have until 30 November to get their shit together or piss off. If, in the event that they do piss off, then yes we will go ahead with the Notaires offer re the plots as the benefit to us would be three times the amount that has been offered to us directly 
Naturally, there is a bit of tax we have to pay for each plot, but as we have been here over 10 years it is not that much of a hit.
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Assuming your notaire is as efficient as they sound, that would seem to be a very Cunning Plan, even if it takes longer to come to fruition.
Good luck!
Excellent news. Hopefully this will call their bluff.
As an aside, when you said earlier that it’s four independent agents trying to buy your place, do you mean estate agents?
Hi Jennifer. I just checked the details of the Agent and this is his website: Maxime WAFFLART - conseiller. He is in the middle front.
We were introduced to him by a person who lists himself with iadfrance.fr.
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Go for it, sounds like you have a good Notaire, good luck.
Young Maxime seems to fancy himself as an entrepreneur from what I’ve just read. He has a business degree from Montpellier and can’t have been working all that long.
EDIT: And if my maths are right, he isn’t even 24.
How on earth did they gain access as the Notaire has no right to allow this? If that had been mine, I would have gone after some answers and porte plainte.