Quick guide to buying property in France

Many people head off to search for their dream home in France with little more than a sheet of paper from the estate agent. But with a little careful planning, separating the dreams from the nightmares can be a simple task giving you more time to hunt down property. It is well known that surveying of French property before its purchase rarely occurs, unlike in the UK. You can choose to do your own survey but it is not advised, however you could prepare a checklist to make any future decisions easier to compare. This will also help you decide if you want to instruct a surveyor and help direct them to points of interest you have noted.

As a quick guide, check the physical boundaries of the property, any obvious pipes or cables and can you see signs of pathways across the land? Look at the walls from a distance to see if they stand vertical, are there any obvious cracks and are they well pointed? Inside the house obvious signs of damp and the smell in the rooms will give you a good idea of the condition of the building. How old is the electricity meter, when was the wiring in the house last checked and is there sufficient heating for winter time?

There is a useful checklist on the BBC website that will allow you to compare houses and give you an overview of property.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/property/checklists/viewing.html

 

This list has been complied and intended for guidance only. We do not hold responsibility for the use of external links and any problems that may arise from their use. It should not be considered a substitute for individual professional legal advice.

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