Frequently Asked Questions

What are FAQs?
Dunno - but people keep asking us.

Can I sell my house through you?
Yes, of course you can. We welcome all enquiries regarding selling your property through our web site. The property does NOT need to be located in Bourgogne (Burgundy). We will ask you to sign a 'mandat' and the property sale will be subject to the usual French terms and conditions. If you would like us to assess your property please contact us using the Contact Us page.

Do I need a surveyor?
The French generally do not engage the services of a surveyor. They will judge the condition of a house themselves before making an offer on the property. If you are at all unsure of a property then we would recommend that you employ a surveyor. This of course brings its own problems e.g. trying to find a surveyor that speaks English being the main one. When you make an offer on a property we will carry out certain checks on the property – these will be energy, lead and asbestos checks. You will be given these reports when they are complete. If you do decide to employ a surveyor you must make sure that they can carry out the survey on the property before you buy the property or during the cooling off period when you have signed the ‘compromis de vente’. We can help you find a suitable surveyor.

Whats the meaning of life?
42...or was it 64, it's a number anyway.

Do I need a solicitor?
Yes! But you will need the French equivalent who is called a notaire. He will handle the property sale to completion. We use our own notaire for all sale transactions.

Can I pull out of the deal after the ‘compromise de vente’ has been signed?
You have a seven day cooling off period after signing the ‘compromis de vente’ in which you can pull out of the deal. The ‘compromise de vente’ will be sent to you by registered post and your seven days will start on receipt of the ‘compromis’.

I want to view a property what do I do?
Just give us a ring or drop us an email! Try and give us as much notice as possible before the visit (we need to arrange the visit with owners and get the keys from them as well). If you need accommodation during your visit we can often arrange an hotel for the duration of your stay. When viewing a property see this advice.

I want to buy a property what do I do?
After you’ve visited a property and you would like to buy a property, speak to us. Very often we will be able to negotiate a better price from the owners. Tell us what you would like to pay and we will do the rest.

Why don’t you have many photographs of the property I’m interested in?
This could be because of several factors e.g. the house may not have been on our books for very long and we haven’t got that many pictures of the property yet, we also have regional French agents who acquire the details for the properties and as the French way of selling a property is different from the English they do not take many pictures often – we are educating these agents to take more (and better) pictures for the web site.

Why isn’t there an exact location of the property on the web site?
The French estate agent market is very different from the English market. It is also a very competitive market. As such other estate agents eye our properties enviously and often will try and approach the owners of these properties and persuade them to sell their property through their agencies. We therefore try and make it as hard as possible for them to do this. Consequently if you want to know exactly where a property is please don’t hesitate to call us or mail us about the property’s location.

Why do I have to agree to all those conditions when I ask for information from you?
As we are a real French estate agency and we sell property to French citizens as well as people from other countries we follow standard French estate agency procedures (these procedures are designed to protect you, the seller and the agency).

Am I obliged to buy a house if I view it?
Absolutely not! You will have been asked to sign a ‘bon de visite’ before you view a property. This is standard practice in France and is protection for the estate agency – this is related to the above question (Why isn’t there an exact location of the property on the web site?) and is to stop customers from purchasing the viewed property from another agency.

How long does it take to organise a visit to view a property?
We can often organise a visit at very short notice (you can just turn up at the office). However we would ask you to provide as much notice as possible before a visit so we can arrange a visit to the property with the owners and arrange access (keys) to the property. Ideally we would like a weeks notice if possible.

Can I get a mortgage for the house I want in France?
You can indeed! Whether or not you get a French mortgage should be discussed with your financial consultant.

Can I negotiate on the property price?
Absolutely! We will always try and get the best deal for you that we can. It is always worth making an offer on a property you like.

Will I need a French bank account if I buy a property in France?
It will certainly help! If you want electricity and water then it would certainly be advisable to have a French bank account. If you are intending to use your French property as your main residence then setting up a bank account is relatively simple. We can introduce you to a bank manager in Chatillon if you wish.

Why should I buy a house in Burgundy (Bourgogne)?
Hmmm, well, you should buy a house in Burgundy because……

• It is lovely countryside
• Climate
• Houses are still relatively cheap compared to other regions of France
• The food and wine
• Quiet
• History

…..do we need to go on?
Okay then, a few more reasons…..

• Quick to get to
• Lifestyle
• Friendly people

….and LOADS of other reasons that you will find out for yourselves when you come here.

What is the buying process?
The buying process in France is quite easy and a lot less stressfull than in the UK. After an offer is made you will sign a ‘compromis de vente’. You will pay a 5-10% deposit. Checks are then made on the property by the estate agent for lead and asbestos and depending on where the property is also for termites. About 1.5 months to 2 months after the compromise is signed then the ‘acte de vente’ will be signed and the remainder of the money is paid at this meeting.

How do I get money to the notaire to pay for the house?
There are various ways to do this. You can transfer money using your bank, however this is possibly more expensive and time consuming than other methods. The method we used was a money transfer agent who charged no commission and guaranteed no charges from the receiving bank. They can transfer money quickly and relatively easily. However do your research on any company you choose to do the transfer. If you would like to know the company we used and the good and bad points of using them please don’t hesitate to contact us.