58 French Property News August 2019 http://www.completefrance.com
appear in a photo. Be guided and consider
visiting some of these if your agent seems
convinced that they are good bets.
Similarly, you might be sent properties that
seem to be above budget. We stay in close
contact with vendors and we’ll know when a
price reduction is imminent, or if the vendor’s
personal situation has changed and they have
become more negotiable on price.
Once you have a shortlist of properties that
you are considering viewing, expect a good
agent to talk honestly about the setting, the
location, and the condition. If, for example,
there is a pylon nearby, a chicken farm next door
or a known structural issue, you should not be
finding out at the viewing.
Working through concerns
We are often asked about the reason for a sale.
We usually know, and more often than not it is
simply time for the owner to move on to a new
adventure. However, while a property purchase
is usually a happy event, a sale can be for very
private and personal reasons and we will protect
the privacy of the seller.
Another question often asked is the length of
time a property has been on the market.
Sometimes a vendor will go to market at an
unrealistic price because they have over-invested
or simply love their own home too much. Other
properties just need to find their time to sell. It’s
not unusual for a house to be on the market for a
year or two before the right buyer comes along.
Often at that point we suddenly find three
buyers fighting over a property that has
languished for several months. Our advice?
Don’t fixate on this detail. If you find the right
property, it simply doesn’t matter. It’s fair
enough to say you’ll know it when you see it;
the emotional connection is usually the clincher.
Once you get a viewing, expect your agent to
be a local expert. They should be able to talk
knowledgeably about schools, vets, the
viability of running gîtes or chambres d’hôtes in
the area and much, much more. If they don’t
have all the answers, they should know where
to go to get the info.A good agent will save you time and money
on wasted trips, educate you on the pluses and
minuses of individual properties, towns and
areas and get you to that property that is perfect
for you. It’s a skill, matching buyer and
property, and the thrill of getting it right and
setting someone on the path to their ideal place
in France is the best reward going. EXPERT ADVICE
A good agent will educate you on the pluses
and minuses of individual properties and areas
and get you to that perfect property
You may be tempted when window-shopping but over 95% of French property searches begin onlineThe riverside town of Nérac in Lot-et-Garonne
is popular with British househuntersJulie Savill is Group Marketing Director at
Beaux Villages estate agency in southern France
Tel: 0800 270 01010 (Freephone from UK)
0033 (0)8 05 69 23 23
beauxvillages.comtherry / Getty Images/iStockphoto