Is the thought of buying property for sale in Languedoc intimidating?

Would you like to buy a house for sale in Languedoc, south France, but don’t have much time to look? Is your knowledge of French limited or non-existent? Are you afraid of being ripped off? If you recognise any or all of these factors, I can help.

I am not, nor ever have been, an real estate agent (hurrah!). Whereas the real estate agent works for the vendor, I work exclusively for you, the purchaser.

1. Initial contact
   After an initial contact I will send you a contract of engagement which forms the basis of the agreement between us. If you wish to proceed, you will sign it and return it together with a registration fee (see Fees below).
2. Questionnaire
   I will then send you by e-mail or snail mail a detailed questionnaire to establish what type of property for sale in Languedoc, south France it is that you are looking for - and to get an idea of your budget. Please note that I do not handle properties under €300,000 in value. Once I receive this, we will have a detailed discussion to verify your requirements. This is a critical stage in the process as it saves you visiting properties in Languedoc that are unsuitable.
   
3. Property search
   Using all my resources, I will send you outline details of a number of houses for sale in Languedoc, France, that meet your criteria.
   
4. Property visits and reports
   You will select which of these are of interest and I will visit them and submit a full report of the house for sale in Languedoc, with photographs.
   
5. Your inspection
   You will then come out to Languedoc, and visit the properties for sale, accompanied by me - and will hopefully select one. The property purchase procedure will then take place (see below).
   
6. After sales service
   Once you have bought a property in Languedoc, there are endless details to attend to such as insurance, electricity supply, telephone and internet services etc. I will help you with these at no extra charge, unless for some reason they take an inordinate amount of time.

My attitude to fees is that they should be clear and open and there should be no commissions, hidden or otherwise, from real estate agents or others. In this way I can be entirely independent when searching for property for sale in Languedoc, south France, and completely on your side.

I charge a Registration Fee of £300 or (€450 / $575).

This is to deter time-wasters and is returnable on signing of the contract for any property purchase and payment of my commission, which is 2.75% of the agreed purchase price of the property, excluding notaire’s fees, payable on signature of the agreement to purchase.

There are a number of important reasons why someone 'on the spot' can be invaluable in finding a house for sale in Languedoc, south France, that meets your requirements. A property search consultant can also prove invaluable after the actual sale, when you are making any necessary changes and alterations to the property that need doing.

Firstly, French real estate agents do not operate in the same way as UK real estate agents. In the UK, if you express an interest in a particular type of house in a designated area, you get bombarded with details of properties that may match your requirements. In the Languedoc region of France, if you don’t buy the first house you visit with the real estate agent, you will never hear from him again.

No, not ever.

The French for real estate agent is 'Immobilier', and believe me, they are immobile! They expect you to do the legwork by continually monitoring their website or phoning them to see if any houses for sale in Languedoc, south France that meet your requirements have become available. And of course, many of the local immobiliers naturally only speak French and provide details in French, so that is yet another hurdle that you have to overcome.

Another problem is that very few houses are sold on a 'Sole Agency' basis, so the same house will be for sale by any number of real estate agents in Languedoc, and believe me there are hundreds here, so keeping track of whether a house is still for sale can be a nightmare. There is nothing more aggravating than flying over to see a house only to find that it has been sold.

As everyone who has ever bought a house knows, location is critical, and particularly in the Languedoc region of southern France, where it is not just a question of choosing the plain, the foothills, or the mountains - because within these broad areas are countless towns and villages - all with their very own advantages and drawbacks. The location of a new waste disposal site; plans for a new development; which villages have a busy local market and a vibrant community life (if that is what you are seeking) - all these factors come only with detailed local knowledge.

Gaining access to the best local professionals and artisans can also make buying, moving into, and renovating a new home all the easier. A good, efficient notaire (lawyer) who will carry out the work fast and diligently; the local builder with the skills and commitment to do a good job for you and not be forever working on someone else’s site in preference to yours; the electrician; the plumber; the garden and pool maintenance man - the list is endless.

With local knowledge of property and property services in Languedoc, you have a much better chance of getting the work done on time and to your satisfaction, bearing in mind that the good artisans usually have several months work in the pipeline and are unlikely to be available tomorrow. Of course having good friends who have lived in the area for some time can provide you with a lot of this information. Failing that, use me!