Making an offer and the “compromis”

You can make an offer as we tend to in England but try to be reasonable. There is probably less tolerance of the genuinely “cheeky” offer. You may offend the vendor and give the impression that you are wasting everyone’s time. The agent can advise you, but remember his commission is also at stake so his opinion may not be entirely without prejudice.

In France the binding element of the house buying process is upon you almost straight away. If you fall in love with a house or you can’t miss a bargain you may be tempted to offer straight away. If you do, you may be handed a compromis in short order. The compromis is, (once a seven day cooling off period has elapsed), a binding document and your deposit (usually 10%) is forfeit should you pull out. If it is not handed to you before you leave, it will probably land on your doorstep shortly after your return.

It is a good idea to have your finances and budget sorted out before you go so that if the right house is there, you can deal with it before someone else does. You may also need your marriage certificate if applicable and your passport(s) so that the compromis can be drawn up.

The compromis sets out the terms of the sale/purchase, listing the buyers and sellers and details exactly what is for sale. We do provide a translation service if you need it. A deposit of 10% is usually required though sometimes you can get away with less. Be aware that inheritance of your property must be taken into account in the contract and it is subject to French law rather than English.

The compromis does provide for some conditional withdrawal in the form of what is known as suspensives clauses (clauses suspensives). Examples for this may include refusal of planning permission or a loan for the purchase being declined. But beware, the Notaire may ask for details of your loan and may be able to tell whether your withdrawal is genuine or not.

The seller must provide you with a report on the presence of asbestos and lead (amiantes et plomb). This report is at the seller’s expense and again, we can translate if necessary. In some parts of France this report also testifies the presence or not of termites. Fortunately our region is not yet affected with this terrible problem. If the property is old there will be traces of lead in ancient paintwork and almost certainly wood boring insects will have been at the timbers. In England this is a calamity but in France it is routine. Treat it and move on. (Most beams are made of oak and the heartwood is incredibly strong even if the outside appears decayed.)

Remember that surveys are not generally carried out in France as the banks do not insist upon it. Some English surveyors do operate in some areas but this option is likely to prove expensive.