8 step Buyers
Guide
STEP ONE
Decide that
France is really for you. Decide on a region that you
may like to investigate. Do research via your UK bank
or a French Bank as to how much money you have for the
purchase.
STEP TWO
Plan your
first visit. Consider this as the trail blazing visit -
with a list of tick boxes. Check whether you like
France, their funny habits and language. Choose a large
(ish) area to start in. Many people say that they wish
to buy in the Aude - well it is a huge area - 35
Cantons,438 communes with a land area of 6 139 km ² -
with differing climates, geographical features and
dialects. So choose a hub - like Narbonne for instance,
and work around a radius of about 50 km with the
intention of reducing it to a more manageable size.
Note favourite villages and towns.
Decide on must have features for your house, for
instance, is a garage imperative, is it a garden you
need ( think in your absence if secondary home) or just
a courtyard or small outside space- do you really need
a pool ( beaches, rivers close by can be
great too). Must the Village have a
Boulangerie,
bar and corner store.
STEP THREE
Drive around
your area for 2/3 days- taking notes. This is giving
you ammunition before talking properties to an Estate
Agent.
On the subject of Estate Agents- we have a huge amount
of knowledge of the areas, the pitfalls, areas prone to
inundation and the law. We can also advise you in your
mother tongue. We don't bite, we work damn hard to show
you a cross - section of our properties, and yes, we
get paid by commission on the sale, paid by the
purchaser. Use us and learn from us!!! There - off my
chest now.
STEP FOUR
Start the
hunt. You are now armed with budget information, area
preferences and maybe even some favourite villages.
There are different ways to start the hunt. Via
internet - many properties are advertised privately by
the French. Good start if your French is up to it.
Ditto, a lot of French advertise their properties on
the front of their home, usually with a phone number.
If you have friends living in your chosen area, they
may do some leg work for you before you visit. Or,
visit an Estate Agent. Pick their brains, look at their
property selection and choose which ones to visit. Be
open - minded and maybe agree to look outside your
village list - there may be some surprises (or not!)
Take a peek at taster properties for sale
in the Aude.
STEP FIVE
Visit visit
visit! There is NO substitute for this. If you like a
house that you have seen, find a café and watch the
action - get a feel of your potential new surroundings.
Walk through the village, go into the church, shops.
Listen, question and observe!
STEP SIX
If you find
a home that ticks nearly all the boxes, ask to see it
again. Your original list may have now changed as to
your requirements - be open to changes from your
script. There is always a feeling that round the next
corner, an even better proposition may await. Sometimes
yes, most times no. A lot of people spend months
waiting for something better - lose time, spend more
money returning, and never really decide. Listen to
your heart and head. If all parties agree that the
property is correct, make an offer. REMEMBER: If you
are buying a house with a pool
and/or land, think
about its maintenance in your absence!
STEP SIX
Negotiate
hard. Either you or your Agent must negotiate hard in
the current market. A rough guide is between 5 and 15 %
off the advertised price. Go low and be prepared to
counter offer- setting a maximum price for the property
in your mind. Discuss also if furniture is included,
ask questions like whether any guarantees are still in
existence for work/installations already carried out.
If verbal promises have been made by the Vendor, note
them down to add as a Clause Suspensive
in the
Compromis de Vente -
(such as a
promise to repair a large hole in the wall etc.)
STEP SEVEN
Your offer
has been accepted! Help!!!!!!! The time has come to put
your money where your heart is and prepare to sign
the Compromis
de Vente. You
must also consider now setting up a bank account. See
the Property Sale procedure
STEP EIGHT
Congratulations - you are now the
owner of a property in France. When you return home,
start making enquiries about renovations/builders if
required, make sure the money is transferred to
the Notaire a good week to ten days ahead of
signing the Acte Authentique
and get ready to move in.
Check Glossary
for Property Terms.
Learn more about Aude Villages
and Tourism in the
Languedoc
Crack open a bottle of Minervois, and enjoy!
Home Properties in Aude
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