Why use a Property Finder?
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One Agent for Your Entire Search
This is both the most practical and cost-effective solution, because in France: - There is no central or multi-listing system where all properties can be accessed by all agents. - There is a dizzying number of agencies, each with their own portfolio. - Prices of properties sold are not publicly available and outsiders cannot know the true market value of a property. - Vendor agents do not share their listings with all their colleagues and prestige properties are often kept “confidential.”
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Independent & Local Advice
As licensed agents, we can give legal advice about the property purchase and we have a network of trusted advisers to whom we can refer clients, where necessary. We are your unbiased local property expert, protecting only your interest during the search, selection process, price negotiations and entire purchase (and beyond).
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Save Time
Searching in France can involve several wasted trips to view properties that turn out not to fit your requirements or that have already been sold. There can be hundreds of estate agents in any given area, most with different portfolios. Contacting all the agencies, sifting though the listings they send you, and asking for further information on properties that appear to fit your brief can be a full-time job. As a local bilingual expert buyer’s agent, a TFPF member does all the legwork for you. They get the full story from the agency or seller, visit properties that look good on paper, report to the client on the pros and cons and ensure that you only view properties that actually fit your brief. During the process they adapt the search criteria where necessary. Their tailor-made service makes the process as efficient and cost-effective as possible. The majority of clients only needs to come over for one viewing visit. Members have even assisted clients to buy at a distance, relying solely on the finder’s reports, photos, videos and expert opinion.
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Pay the Best Price
Because so many agencies compete for listings in France, asking prices are often set quite randomly, based on what the vendor spent on the property or simply what they hope to get. We have the local market information and expertise to help you ascertain the correct purchase price. When we do the pre-visits for you, we find out how long a property has been on the market; why the owners are selling; and whether any offers have been received already. We also have the local market information and experience to help you determine the correct price.
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Buy the Right Property in the Right Location
When you contact a vendor agency, chances are that you’ll deal with a sales agent (agent commercial) who has recently arrived in France and has no prior experience in real estate. In order to get their agent immobilier licence the buyer’s agents within the TFPF network had to satisfy strict education and/or experience requirements and each of them has many years of experience as a search agent (buyer’s agent). From your first enquiry, they seek to understand exactly what style and type of property you want to buy and the setting and environment that you’re looking for. They do not tell you what you should like, but instead ensure that they understand what you want. Factors that are important to you such as transport connections, schools, restaurants, shops, landscape, climate and quality of local life also will be taken into account to steer you towards the best selection of properties in the best location.
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Practical Matters
Buying a property abroad carries with it a new set of challenges. Your TFPF member agent will be by your side throughout the entire search and acquisition process, and beyond. They will also be happy to recommend the best dual-qualified lawyers, mortgage and currency brokers and financial advisers to ensure that you structure your purchase as efficiently as possible. Once you own your home in France, they help you set up the utility and phone contracts. And your search agent remains your local contact after the sale, sharing with you the contact details of caretakers, gardeners, architects and builders.