Moving back to uk from France
 

Hi,can anyone help us,we are thinking of moving back and want to know the costs of selling our house and separate garage,can we use the original searches that were done when we purchased in dec2010? Can we sell privately or is it involved,the estate agents want so much commission!!
Please help!!!thanks g.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

Of course you can sell privately if you choose to.

AFAIK searches as you call them (diagnostics I believe you mean) only have a shelf life of 3 months so no, you cannot use one from 2010. Being so recent might serve as an unofficial first pass for a buyer bit no more than that.

Strictly speaking you are supposed to have the diagnostics in place before even offering a property for sale but in practice I think many don't and wait until a prospective purchaser appears.

Bonne chance and remember EVERYTHING will sell if the price is right, many of those still waiting for a buyer, sometime years after going on the market, are there because of unrealistic pricing.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

The first "Diagnostic de Performance Energétique - DPE" thermal and eco values diagnostic is done when the house is advertised as the info has to legally be displayed in the agents window since the 1st of January 2011 and I believe the DPE is valid for ten years.

The second diagnostic Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (DDT) Electrical Wiring, Lead, Asbestos, Septic Tanks, Gas Installations, Termites. is done after an offer is accepted and sent directly to the notaire and a copy to yourself.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

The costs of diagnostics are related to the size of property and which diagnostics you need. We had quotes earlier this year for between 85 and 140 Euros for the DPE (small 2 bed house) and the remaining diagnostics came to about 450 euros. It is worth shopping around and getting quotes.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

We have just sold our house quickly and easily for the full asking price without the 'help' of an estate agent.

In my opinion, it is crucial to do your research. Get the price right and plan your marketing strategy carefully. Work out your budget in advance and use it wisely. There are many ways to advertise which cost little or nothing, you need to be imaginative.

Get all your diagnostics in advance, potential buyers are keen to see them. Have all the information about everything at your fingertips, it gives a good impression.

Collect together a set of really good photos which you can send to people who contact you. Include the 'boring' bits like boilers and stuff. Use a Dropbox folder or similar to send them in bulk.

There is loads of stuff on the internet to advise you about the legal aspects - get informed in advance of what you need to do.

Good luck!

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

I agree with cupoftea. Selling a house is much like selling anything else. If private, advertising in the right place is the first step. Once you've sold, then the notaire deals with everything else. With an agent, they will deal with everything but...of course, you'll need to add 8-10% to your house price to cover their costs.
We sold a house in France (our parents) privately in three months by advertising to a different market altogether. The UK/Europe side seems to be flat at the moment so we went further afield. Not sure I'm allowed to name the company in a post but if you want to pm, I'd be happy to help.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

I must have been living in a parallel world as the two houses we have bought in France WE, as purchasers, were required to pay the agent's fees. Has something changed? We also sold the first and the French purchaser paid the fees.

Perhaps have a look on Leboncoin for private sales? Oh, get your tax situation in decent order and notify HMRC the date of return and remember the UK and French tax years are not the same. Very good luck.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

CJM - I think it depends which area of France your house is in, whether the purchaser pays the agency fee or whether the seller pays.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

Well, yes you do pay the costs as purchaser. So if someone is selling their house privately, they have the option to advertise it cheaper than if going through an agent because the house price you see advertised with an agent normally includes the agents charges.

IE Selling privately you advertise the house for 200,000.

Selling the same house through an agent, it's advertised at say - 210,000

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

It is the buyer across all of France ;)

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

So, is the agent trying it on with Ginger world??

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

Legally speaking, in France, it is the vendor who is responsible for ensuring the agent receives the agreed commission. It's true the commission is added onto the net selling price which the purchaser must pay and it's the notaire who actually pays the agent but the vendor remains legally responsible. That is why in cases where a buyer and seller conspire to cut out the agent it is the vendor who will find himself being sued by the agent and not the purchaser.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

I have, in the past two days, sold a house and bought another house in France.

We didn't use an agent for the sale. The buyer paid the notaire's fees.

The seller for the house we bought used an agent. The agents fees were paid by the seller directly from the funds received by the notaire. The notaire's fees were paid by us.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

The fee's were already added to the price that was in the window which is normally the case.

Re: Moving back to uk from France
 

Which was the point I was (probably badly) trying to make.

Agents are pretty good when it comes to moving apartments or properties in big cities but in the countryside, a private sale can be the best option. We spent months (18 actually) trying Leboncoin, greenacres etc with no interest at all..we just gave up trying to sell to the European market and found a company dealing with the Russian speaking sector. We sold in three months as did some friends. It cost us 22€ to advertise and I guess another 200€ to promote. Given we were quoted 13,000€ commission on a 300k property by an agent (which would have had to go on the price), I think we did OK :)