Attestation de vente - cancellation of utilities after sale of house

[rubyroo]

We have sold our French house and completion day is a couple of weeks away. Have prepared everything for cancellation of utilities. Our buyers are going to use our house insurance company but they've been told by the ins. co. that we need to supply an 'attestation de vente' from the notaire before they can cancel our insurance & start a new contract. I'm concerned that we won't be able to get this 'attestation de vente' until completion day as house ins. is a must for the signing & what should be a straightforward day turns into a headache.

[tenniswitch]

This is normal procedure.  The buyers can't insure the property until they own it; you must insure the property for as long as you own it.  You have notified your insurance company about the upcoming closing, haven't you?  After the closing, you (or someone acting in your behalf) just trots round to the insurance company rep's office with the "attestation".  (Perhaps someone in the notaire's office can even do this by fax or telephone, I'm not sure.)

We have bought two houses in France and have never been present for the closing (having authorized someone in the notaire's office to act for us).  We've never had any problems about this.

[Anton Redman]

The last Notaire we used simply printed half a dozen off the PC and handed them over saying they would come in useful

[rubyroo]

thank you for all replies - in for much appreciated.