the french property experts

the french property experts
If you to buy property in France, whether as a holiday home, investment or permanent relocation, it is almost inevitable that you also have a strange creature as a real estate consultant. A difficult animal it can be to categorize!

First things first. In France, there is no such job as a real estate consultant. There are real estate agents (agent immobilier), which offer do more for you than just help you buy your French house, but here it is. A French real estate agent is a qualified, licensed individual, almost invariably well-trained and highly professional.

This is certainly not the case with the real estate consultant.

Now Do not get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that all real estate consultants are uneducated or that they are ripping you. The fact remains however that you are not to be. It is not self-evident, you can access, no training, and none of them are licensed.

I have yet to meet who is actually French.

In my experience, they are all abroad.

So, if there is no "job description" as such, what do they do? Well, that's very different and it's something that you are still very cautious.

For a start, a real estate consultant, in France, can not sell a house. It is absolutely illegal. That is not to say they can not help you find a place, but they must not act as brokers.

What they can do is a go-between. Depending on their practice, they may try to pre-select homes for you to meet specific criteria. You can use the event for you with French agents and accompany you on visits. You can translate the paperwork, help with negotiations, seek bids for construction work necessary to go to the notaire with you help services related post-purchase ... any number of things. For a fee, of course. I have yet to meet, because the do, as a charity!

Getting back to our headline then, angels or demons?

I want it so easy. If you do not speak French, a good adviser offer valuable help and reassurance. Alternatively, a bad simply costs money and your time. The problem is that because of the lack of regulation, there is not the safest way to find the good.

Perhaps you are lucky enough to have one recommended to you. If you do not, you must very carefully consider what you get for your money. Is there a type of written agreement between you, or is it a case of "Oh yes, I can help you with that", followed by a larger than expected bill or a failure to deliver.

Perhaps you should also think about improving your French language skills. If you are ever too much time here, it is not only you but also saves money.

Then again, there are a growing number of French agents who speak English perfectly acceptable - even in English people. I voted twice for me (I was polite, proper French agents working too many hours for me!).

Another consideration could be the time you have available. A good real estate consultant you can create a lot of time when you both meet the requirements. If they do, have some time, since they know the little nuances of the French system and be able to take you through a lot of them and possibly save you some frustration.

If you expect, my personal recommendation, one way or another, I am afraid I will disappoint you. It depends on your circumstances and your budget. Anyway, with our French home bought without one, I'm a bit biased.

It would be unfair of me to categorize all real estate consultant as unnecessary. I could not recommend either one.

Apparently Jeff is the author of the highly recommended Real Estate Buyer's Guide, the more real estate consultant and important information on all aspects of buying a French house.