PROPERTY SALES IN FRANCE - SURVEYS

Surveys before purchase of property sales in France are much less common than surveys in the U.K.

Instead of a survey, people making property sales in France tend to use local builders to inspect a property and give an opinion on say, the roof, and to give a written quote or estimate for repair.

This system works well for property sales in France - but there is a major drawback for a foreign buyer with limited time in the area. Obviously, you may need several builders, each specialist in different types of work to inspect the property to get a picture of the overall cost and condition of the property in France , and this is a time consuming business.
So some knowledge of the types local surveys available for property sales in France may be of help.

 You need a complete check of the whole building, and you need it
BEFORE YOU SIGN THE INITIAL CONTRACT -
If  you find an unexpected fault after you have signed you lose your deposit on your property sales in France, and some legal fees too. This is especially worrying if you are buying a property sales in France in need of extensive repair.

It is not easy to find a succession of local tradesmen to come and give a range of quotes, even if you have a week or two in the area to try to arrange it all.
Have you tried to do it in the UK recently? They all seem to be so busy!
And how well will you understand what they are telling you?

There are several options to help with property sales in France.

THE ESTATE AGENT'S REPORT

A local estate agent will inspect and offer their comments about the price and general condition of the property sales in France. Although this is not really a survey, a knowledgeable agent does have a wide knowledge of property conditions. This costs around £200.

MORTGAGE VALUATION FOR PROPERTY SALES IN FRANCE

If you are getting a mortgage, there will usually be a survey on behalf of your lender.
These tend to be even less detailed than in the UK.
It is unlikely to be sufficient for peace of mind unless the property sales in France is almost new.

LOCAL SURVEYORS and ARCHITECTS

There will be local surveyors and architects, both of whom can give a condition report.Your lawyer should be able to put you in touch with one. There may only be one in the area, and the reports again tend to be less detailed than in the UK. It is also going to be in the local language, so a translation will be another cost. Allow £60-80 per 100 words. When translating into English, a native English speaking translator  is regarded as the best option.

Surveys of this type on property sales in France are likely to cost between £500 and £1500.

SPECIALIST SURVEY ON PROPERTY SALES IN FRANCE

In areas popular with British buyers, there may be local surveyors who have geared up to service this market. You may get a report on property sales in France more similar in style to those we are used to, and they may also supply a translation.

Similarly, there are some British surveyors working in popular areas. They need full knowledge of the local regulations and conditions and they should have indemnity insurance for your protection.