When planning to view properties in France, there are several considerations to make. It isn’t as easy as jumping on a plane and hiring a car at the airport, although many stories from property buyers might imply this is the case.
Firstly, viewing properties in France requires planning. As discussed in our Masterclass Webinar with Chris Summers of Beaux Villages Immobillier recently hosted live and available On Demand, Chris himself shared the following tips:
Do your research and plan in advance
Gone are the days when you can simply email an agent and arrange a viewing for next day or week (although it’s not impossible). Estate agents are very busy with post-pandemic pent up demand. It is advisable to arrange a viewing with an estate agent at least 2-3 weeks in advance. If you are planning a viewing trip soon and don’t know where to start, we can put you in touch with our expert estate agents who might help. Simply get in touch here.
Limit your search area; as being too expansive might mean that you need to view for several days and on several trips. If you are interested in particular area, search for properties on property portals and get an idea of what you would like. The more focused your requirements are the easier it is for agent to prepare properties to view on a day or several days.
Don’t forget about the local amenities, distance from the airport to your future property is important, not just for yourself but also if you choose to rent it out. If you are looking to move to France with a family also consider schools. These are often key decision making factors when you view properties.
Come prepared
Upon arrival and meeting an agent who will show you properties you both agreed on and shortlisted you can come prepared by having questions ready to ask. The best way to have your questions at a ready is to download our viewing Trip guide which contains checklists and questions to ask your agent.
Take pictures of the property. It’s highly likely that you will visit multiple properties in one day. It is advisable to take photographs so that you can review them later at the end of a day and compare property features. It is also helpful to save these so that you can share it with family or friends upon return or when making a decision over which property you wish to buy.
Know your non-negotiable property features
An important point to highlight to your agent are the “must have” features. You should have this ready prior to the viewing trip, however it is important to be aware of these while you are viewing. Also consider which features are negotiable, should you find the right property which meets 9 out of 10 criteria set by you.
Lastly, most common question asked by buyers and also our webinar attendees is around negotiation on property price. We understand that negotiating is something that buyers do wish to explore and often exercise. Majority of the properties are already priced very fairly and given the experience of estate agents listing these properties they do reflect a market value. You should ask your estate agent if there was a room for negotiation, however don’t expect it to be a big “Yes”.
Should you choose to book your next viewing trip, or learn about the buying process when buying property in France, you can rely on our resources:
- Personalised Property Planner
- Viewing Trip Club
- France Buying Guide
- Webinars for France Property Buying
- Search for your French Property on our property portal
You can also request a free property consultation to discuss your plans with our France consultant who will be happy to assist you and help you on this exciting journey.
Happy property hunting!
