Buying from Immobiliers

[wildey]

We have noticed that some houses come on to the market with several agents and at different prices.  If you are registered with all of them, but buy from the cheapest, who gets the commission? Could there be a snag with the other agents?

[Meg]

This is why some agents make you sign a 'Bon de Visit'.

Under French law you can be asked to sign a Bon de Visite

for each property you view with an agent. This is purely to protect the

agent and essentially means that if you have signed one, view the

property and then view it again with another agent, possibly at a lower

price, even if an offer is made through this agent, the vendor will pay

the commission to the first agent you viewed the property with.

Louise

[naps]

No snag buying from the cheapest, however you are legally bound to buy from the one you viewed the property with - so too late if you find the same property with an agent for a lower price after you've already viewed.

The commission paid will go to the agent which you purchase from and the other agents will have simply 'missed out'.  The house which we are in the process of purchasing had a 16k price difference between the two agents it was advertised with - which one did we go with......?  Neither!  We never viewed with an agent, but went direct to the owner and made them offer - saving 45k on the most expensive agent's price.

[wildey]

Thanks for the replies, that clears that up.  You couldn't get away with bypassing the agents in UK - if only we could!! But then I suppose they have to make a living, and the French don't have expensive glossy brochures to pay for.  We're looking forward to looking for our French home.

[Rob Roy]

[quote user="wildey"]Thanks for the replies, that clears that up.  You couldn't get away with bypassing the agents in UK - if only we could!! But then I suppose they have to make a living, and the French don't have expensive glossy brochures to pay for.  We're looking forward to looking for our French home.[/quote]

They might not have the glossy brochures, but they spend far more time and fuel money running you around on viewings - especially in the country areas.[:)]

[wildey]

Point taken!