French v British estate agent

[letrangere]

As if anyone ever needed convincing otherwise, a quick glance through the property pages of this month's Living France magazine will prove what many have known for so long.  For there on page 95 is a "classic Charentais farmhouse" for sale through a British agent at Euros 340,000 but quick turn of the page (96) reveals precise same house on the books of a local French immobilier, "typical 'Charentaise'" for Euros 322,000.  We're not allowed to name and shame but PM me privately if you want more details.  Looks a nice place, incidentally.  M

[Coco]

Margaret

Have you checked that both include ALL charges.  We have found that the agents around here have a "British/foreigners" book of properties and a "French" book.  The Brit book shows prices including agents AND notaires fees and taxes, whereas the French books tend to just show agency fees, possibly because a lot of French people already have their own notaire that they like to use.

This is the only positive reason I can think of for the differential.

[Shane]

When we sold our house last November we had a french valuation, which was higher than the english and dutch one, and then placed the house for sale at that valuation price with 7 immobiliers, only one of which was english and she was the cheapest and sold it within 3 days. There was a difference across the board of 5000 euros. This was caused by the fees and one french agent actually reduced his fees so that it was more in line with the others.

So the price that goes to the seller is always the same.