A buying agent will scour the local market, visit properties on your behalf, compile a shortlist, accompany you on all viewings and help negotiate the lowest price possible. For this service they will typically charge you between 2 3% of the purchase price.Many people begin their house search using the internet. Just as in the UK there are a selection of listing house details across France.Making an offerThe process here is not too dissimilar to the UK.Once you have found a house that you like you should make an offer (preferably in writing) to either the agent or vendor.Make sure that all parties know exactly what is included in the offer (ie if it includes agents fees) and don forget to set aside a budget for the notaires fees and taxes.There is no hard fast rule as to how low your offer should be. In a market you may well need to pay the asking price, in troubled times you may well be able to negotiate a hefty discount.There are a list of tests that the vendor must pay for and have undertaken by professionals. This is called the Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (DDT).Up to seven surveys must now be undertaken. These are for asbestos, electrics, energy efficiency, gas, lead, or technological risks and termites.Most sellers wait until they have an offer agreed before commissioning the reports, some of which have a short life before they need to be undertaken again.If you want to have someone representing your legal interests there are many UK legal practices who employ French notaries and offer this service (for a fee).Preliminary sale agreement (Compromis de Vente)Once your offer is accepted and the compulsory tests have been undertaken you will be asked to sign the compromise de vente.This will either have been drafted by the agent or notaire. It is a binding agreement between the vendor and the buyer, subject to any conditions that may be stipulated in the contract. The most common such condition is that relating to a mortgage being secured but others could include planning consent, rights of way etc.Once signed you do have a seven day cooling off period during which you may pull out of the transaction at any time, without explanation, but you must do this by registered letter.You will usually pay a deposit (between 5 10%) to the agent or notaire and this will be kept in a special bank account as a guarantee until the purchase is Wholesale Jerseys completed.It usually takes between eight twelve weeks from signing the compromis for the final acte de vente to be wholesale nfl jerseys completed and ready for signature.The signing is at the notaires office and they will confirm the final time and date a short time beforehand. Beware, the date set in the compromis is a target date and not set in stone.