COMPASS IMMOBILIER: Purchasing French Property - Persons Involved - The Estate Agent

PURCHASING FRENCH PROPERTY: PERSONS INVOLVED

The estate agent

Most properties in France will be offered through an estate agent (agent immobilier). The estate agency profession in France is highly regulated and in order to work as an estate agent a professional license (carte professionnelle) is required. To obtain the carte professionnelle, an estate agent has to fulfil a number of requirements including having attained a certain level of qualification or experience, and hold professional indemnity insurance and a financial guarantee. However, you may not always deal with the estate agent or one of his or her employees, but instead with somebody who has the status of a commercial agent (agent commercial). Commercial agents are self-employed people linked to the agent by a contract; they are entitled to show the property and close deals on the agent’s behalf. The status of some people can be unclear and you should always ensure that you are aware of what their actual status is. You are entitled to see their professional registration papers ('carte grise') as well as proof that they hold the requisite professional indemnity insurance. A commercial agent should always provide details of whose 'carte' they work under in their own publicity material.

In certain cases, properties may be marketed by individuals. Bear in mind when buying from an individual that you do not have the benefit of the agent’s professional indemnity insurance should there be problems. In addition, you will not have the benefit of a professional's expertise to advise and assist with the sale. Should somebody show you a property purportedly for sale by an individual and ask you for a fee for their services, he or she is not entitled to do so if they are not an estate agent, commercial agent or an employee of the estate agency with written authorisation (a mandate) from the vendor to sell the property on his or her behalf.

Copyright All Rights Reserved Victoria Headdon, Compass Immobilier