Tips on buying French property
When you buy a property in the UK, you will typically take some time and view a good number of properties over time: it is easier because in general the properties will be closer to you and easier to get to (unless moving from John o Groats to Landsend or similar!)
Yet when it comes to buying overseas, many plan a trip of a week or two and therefore feel very incentivised to find something quickly: they would put the trip down as a failure if they don't buy somewhere, and therefore their heart which says "I must buy a property on this trip" overrules their head which says "actually none of these properties are really my dream home".
So the biggest tip has to be to simply take your time: don't be in a rush. If you make a bad purchase then you can regret it, both emotionally and financially for a long time to come. Resist that urge to want to fall in love with a property even if alarm bells ring simply because you feel that you are on a time limited visit and must find something to purchase.
To help in your search, you should create a checklist of what you want before you go to see any properties. Simply thinking you will turn up and make a decision is no good, right down what you want in a house then when you go around a house, make notes as to how it performs.
At least then you have an objective measure rather than simply an impression, often emotional, of a building. If there is one property that you think you really like but it actually scores low on what you wanted, this can be a useful indication that it could contain too many compromises. It may sound a little too scientific or even cold for some, but it is an approach that has a lot to say for it.
More French property articles:
- Borrowing money when in France
- The ideal home in France
- Paying for a new build property in France
- Why moving to France should not mean forgetting Britain
- Buying property in France for the lifestyle
