What will I need to do? What paperwork is required?

When you decide to sell your property in France, privately, online, with an Estate Agent or a combination there are numerous pieces of paperwork that you will need to find to prepare your marketing campaign or and/or to show to your French Estate Agent or Immobilier will need in relation to your property (especially if your French is not too good). This ensures that you and/or the Estate Agent have all the information required to advise prospective clients and establish a Compromis de Vente (the equivalent of exchanging contracts) when a buyer has been found for your house. It will also allow the Immobilier to help you calculate your Capital Gains Tax Liability if you are selling a second home or you bought the property as an SCI (Company).

A copy of your Title Deeds known as Acte Authentique or Titre de Propriété – this will allow the Estate Agent to confirm that you are indeed the owner of the property and confirm what you are selling especially in relation to the land area shown on the Cadastral Plan. It will also help to establish if there are any rights of way or access on your land or property which may, of course, impact their valuation. Be careful though as the Agent will be able to see the price you paid for the property which you may not wish to disclose when you are asking for their opinion as to value.

A floor plan of your property on each floor is extremely helpful to prospective buyers, even if it is not to scale (there is a programme called Paint on your PC). If you are supplying room dimensions for an agent or for your own marketing always understate the sizes for legal reasons. In France the “surface habitable”, habitable surface area, only applies to living space in the house not garages, etc. and in rooms with sloping ceilings you can only include what has a height of more than 1.82 meters high (approximately 6ft) which sometimes makes rooms in a loft conversion look very small so do note where rooms have sloping ceilings.

Your estate agent may ask for your help with photographs of your property as you will have taken them in optimum weather conditions, etc. and probably when your house is looking at its best. It is a good idea to include photos from all four seasons where possible and try and take a picture of the whole of the front of the house (minus cars, etc.). If you have had major renovation works carried out to your property provide before, during and after photos and notes where possible. Not all photos that you provide will be used on the website or property details but they are invaluable when prospective purchasers ask for further photographs. Anything from 50 to 100 photos would be appropriate. More information on photographs here.

Copies of your Taxes Foncières and Taxe d’Habitation bills (these are sent out in September and October of each year for the current year).

Copies of your birth, marriage and any divorce certificates.

Copies of your passports.

Copies of receipts for any works that have been carried out to the property which have a 10 year guarantee from the company or Artisan. Your Immobilier or Notaire will usually contact the relevant Artisans and ask for a copy of their Décennale Insurance (10 year insurance) policy to attach to your Title Deeds. In the absence of the correct paperwork you could be personally liable This is even more important if you have a Capital Gains Tax Liability (Plus Value). From January 2007 receipts that you as an individual have from builder’s merchants etc. or for work that you have done to the property yourself is not deductible.

A copy of the Certificat d’Urbanisme (outline planning consent) for your property and the Permis de Construire (Planning Permission) where applicable, even when the works have not been carried out. Copies of your Déclaration d’ouverture de chantier (start of works) and Déclaration d’achèvement de travaux (finish of works) forms. A copy of your Certificat de Conformité (certificate of conformity) – this is not always automatically issued.

A copy of your Attestation d’Assurance Dommage Ouvrage (copy of your policy document if you have Project Managed your building works yourself) – not many individuals are aware of this Insurance so don’t panic if you have never heard of it.

A copy of any other relevant paperwork including the Etude d’assainissement (plan of the septic tank installation) where available.

If you are going to use an Estate Agent you need to think in advance how you are going to give them access to the property. It is best to give the Agent a set of keys so that whenever a prospective purchaser arrives in their Office they can view your property (if they can’t contact you and they don’t have a key your chance to sell your house may be missed!) Your neighbour may “always be in” and have a key but for sure when there is a potential buyer in the Estate Agent’s Office and they try to contact your neighbour they will be out.

Preparing detailed directions and maps is very useful both for the estate agent before they come and for prospective buyers from your private advertising.

Prospective buyers like to know distances to ferry ports, airports, etc. Prepare information on local tourist attractions and activities in your area, together with a list of local towns and amenities with driving distances especially to Schools and the “boulangerie”.

Keep a list of any problems or plans that you are aware of that may affect the property such as a new pylon route or wind farm, a quarry or rubbish dump.

If you know the history of your property or immediate area be ready to inform your prospective purchaser.

Prepare a list of what you are including and not including in the sale of your property, and items that you are willing to negotiate on. This list will be annexed to your Compromis de Vente and signed by you and your prospective purchasers to avoid any misunderstandings. You can download a pre-prepared form here.

Lastly think about whether you want a “For Sale” board up or not. Many Agency mandates automatically include their “right” to put up a board (if you are adamant that you do not want a board cross out the line on the Mandate).

If you are unsure about any of these documents, I would be happy to help – see pricing policy.