not using an agent to sell

[david1968]

Hi all

I apologise if this has been answered before but if it has I havent found it yet !

We

are looking to sell our holiday property due to a change in

circumstances at home (being offered a job overseas). We have only had

the property about 12 months and are considering selling it without the

use of an agent. We are not doing this to make more money but to offer

the house at a resonable price to the buyer and therefore hopefully

sell it quicker.

What is the process of selling with the notaire.....

Do

we have to see the notaire first before we put the house up for sale or

can we just advertise it, find a buyer and then approach a notaire ?

If

we want the notaire to put the house 'on his books' so to speak would

the notaire actually visit the house or would we provide him details ?

If

we wish to sell the house completely furnished what is the best way of

offering the contents to the buyer ? Just included in the house price

or seperately ?

Can we  put the house up for sale with an agent

and still sell it privately. ? Obviously making sure we dont sign

anything that says otherwise

I would also like to hear other peoples experiences of selling without an agent

Many thanks

David

[Val_2]

I have been seeing  more and more properties advertised privately for sale by way of a board(home made) put up or just in shops and newspapers. You are not obliged to use anyone at all, just a notaire for the final paperwork etc. However, a notaire would be cheaper for a prospective purchaser to use to find a property as agents charge a commission and sometimes push up the prices well over the notaire and some can be very greedy indeed (my friend has discovered an agent selling her place has it at 31,000€ more expensive than the notaire she has lodged it with, so who would a prospective buyer go for even if the agent has included the fees,they won't be that much)

[Will]

I think many of your questions will be answered and various aspects explained here http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/696071/ShowPost.aspx.

Contents should be dealt with separately otherwise they will attract fees and taxes which are worked out as a percentage of the price.

Don't forget that if you sell through a notaire (rather than just use them for the legal stuff), a sales commission of 2.5% to 5% plus TVA will be charged. Although this is less than an agent would charge, it can still be a substantial sum for the buyer.

[david1968]

Thanks Will

I had heard that the notaire will charge an additional fee but wasnt sure of the figures. Its the figure 2.5% - 5% dependent on which notaire you use ?

PS I have seen that post before, most of it is arguing so wasnt very helpful :)

[Will]

No, it depends on the price of the property. It is a scale fixed by the government, though I understand a notaire can reduce it if he takes pity on you - an unlikely happening.