House Viewing Etiquette

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The viewing.....this could be the first step in making your dream of living in France come true, so it's important to get it right!

Be on time.  Bear in mind that many estate agents are self employed and that if they are meeting you away from their office, they can't do any other business while they are waiting.  And the vendors may have taken the day off to be present for the viewing.

Remember to allow yourself longer travelling time than you think you need. 

The French are pretty formal and there are cetain accepted ways of meeting and greeting.  Shaking hands is the norm.  Don't worry about Faire la Bise... kissing... on this occasion!!  I will cover the kissing minefield in another post.

Whether you can speak the language or not ...smile and be friendly....try and learn a few phrases to say hello and introduce yourselves.

Keep an open mind..you will be putting your own mark on the property so learn to see past the layers and layers of ancient floral wallpaper and the toilet in the garage....I am not joking!!

Don't get carried away by the lower cost of land and be tempted to buy far more than you manage.

Be realistic about the renovations you can do yourselves and what is within your budget. 

Give clear and honest feedback to your estate agent so that they can work with you to find your perfect French home.

And enjoy the experience!

Bon chance!