The Process
Once the agent has successfully brought together the seller and buyer and negotiated a price that is acceptable to both parties the real work begins. The first step is to draw up the compromis de vente (initial contract) either through the notaire or with an in-house legal team. More detailed information will be needed from along with copies of documents to give proof of ID. Then there's liaison with the diagnostics provider to ensure that all the surveys are up to date - and if not have them re-done.
While this is going ahead the agent will also be processing any finance that is needed and contacting companies involved to obtain paperwork for the compromis. With or without finance and whether you are the buyer or seller, if the money is coming from or going to a country outside the Eurozone your agent will also put you in touch with a currency expert to get you the best possible exchange rate. If moving permanently to France rather than buying a holiday home you will need advice on pensions and tax planning; your agent can help with recommendations.
At the very end your agent will be there to agree the utility readings and assist in
setting up the new contracts and bank accounts.
Marketing, legal, technical, finance, currency, lifestyle – just a few of the areas of the process that your agent is there to assist with.
The day of completion (the Acte de Vente): your agent has finished the juggling act and successfully kept all those balls in the air throughout the process. There's one last thing to do – the best of all of them: to wish you all well in your future.
Your celebrations can start now, the agent will slip quietly out of the notaire's door (and most likely with a fairly moist eye). For them it might be moving on to the next one but each one is special and completion day is the end of a long relationship.
As always comments and questions can be passed through the team at The Good Life France or directly to me: tsage (@) leggett.fr; tim.sage3 (@) gmail.com
*Access free archived copies of The Good Life France Magazine for more info.
French Property Report
It needn't be a puzzle...
By Tim Sage, Property Expert and Agent