The viewing of the property is very important, even more so if you buying a holiday home. You want to be certain of what you are purchasing. The only exception will be if you are buying an off-plan investment, yet even in such a circumstance it would be beneficial to have a preview. Such a visit must be taken seriously, with careful consideration and strict organisation, as you will certainly incur travel costs and must follow a set schedule.
The search and selection of property to visit is paramount so as not to waste time and money.
Some agents may offer support in this area, helping to organise the trip and dealing with the annoying details, this can substantially ease your burden and allow you more quality time, for ultimately your time abroad should be a pleasant experience.
Organising a viewing.
Once you know your needs, your budget, the place you want to go, and have selected a number of properties which fit your requirements, it is time to organise the visit for a viewing.
Book your holiday first, along with your plane, T.G.V or ferry ticket. This will help you to avoid rushing or paying too much for last-minute transport. It is much easier to organise a viewing when you are certain of the dates on which you will be there.
Organise 1, or a maximum of 2 viewings per day, as you will have to take into consideration the commuting time between viewings, whilst ensuring a sensible amount of time to properly view each of them. To facilitate this, the agent can be asked to organise the visits, as he should know the region, road networks and estimated journey/visit times better than you, with increased ability/facility to deal in French with all the different French estate agencies related to all of the individual properties that you will view. If you organise the viewing yourself, you have to make sure that you have a sufficient knowledge of French culture, language and organisation, otherwise the visit could become a hectic race to stick to a rigid timetable, and not the pleasant trip that it should be.
Allow yourself a few days, free from house visits, to simply explore, appreciate and enjoy the area. Just take the time to familiarise yourself with your future holiday home area and its? people.
For each property visit you make, we advise that you take notes and photographs to keep the image fresh in your mind, allowing comparisons to be made without confusion and helping to make the final decision an easier one.
Avoid bringing friends with you to property visits, as it is not your friends who are choosing to buy and live here, and they could influence your decision.
Be frank and honest on Your first impression is often right, so be honest with your agent/estate agent as they can change or re-arrange any visits to fit your requirements, but only if you are frank with them.
