Preparing for a Smooth Transition
There are a couple of steps you can take to make sure that once you have an offer in place, the sale can progress as smoothly and quickly as possible:
Finding a Notaire
- Under French law, you have to use a French notaire when selling your property so early on in the process find a recommended local notaire that speaks English to the level you need.
- We have a database of English-speaking notaires so may be able to recommend one in your area.
- You may remember from when you bought the property, the notaire acts on behalf of the government and is not biased towards the buyer or the seller.
Arranging the Technical Reports
- We can help you find reputable local companies that will carry out the various technical reports and certificates you need to comply with the regulations.
- The reports needed will depend on local regulations and the age of the property, but generally they report on termites, asbestos, lead, gas and electricity, major natural and man-made risks, energy performance and sewage disposal arrangements.
- Upgrading the septic tank to ensure it complies with current regulations is a good selling point.
- Check the validity of the report as some reports expire after 12 months.
Buy-to-Let Information
- People buying property in France tend to fall into one of 3 categories, and it is worth, if possible, trying to appeal to as many categories as possible. Those categories are:
a)permanent residents
b) private second home owners
c) holiday letting business (including B&B, gîte and full property letting)
- If you are able to demonstrate that your property is versatile and well-suited to either a private family home or holiday letting, your property will be of interest to more potential buyers.
- If you currently let out your property for holiday lets, or manage a B&B or gîte business, providing detailed, informative information about your business will give potential buyers confidence to take on a new venture, that is probably an entirely new tack for many purchasers.
- It is best to give accurate information about your own approach to the business and trust that any buyer looking to develop a letting business will see the potential for their own plans. Information you might want to prepare could include:
- How many weeks/nights have been let
- The length of the letting season
- The level of return guests
- Any advance bookings
- The income generated
- The costs usually incurred by the business
- Where you advertise
- Profile of your guests
- You might also like to include the contact details for any local people offering property maintenance and management services.
For More Information
If you would like to speak to us about marketing your property, please just give us a call on +44 1865 582382
