Buying a house? Points to check before signing a contract

Find out if an agent has been involved or, if the home was found through a notaire, who pays the commission. The details should be included in the contract. If the commission is paid by the seller, this is referred to in the sales deed and is part of the price on which taxes and notaires’ fees are paid by the buyer.

Be sure you know exactly what you are buying. Ask the agent or notaire for a copy of the ground plan (plan de masse) and check it on the ground. Mistakes can be difficult to rectify.

Titles to all French land are registered at the departmental land registry (cadastre). You can consult, or buy, copies of cadastral plans at the local mairie or at cadastre.gouv.fr All land is divided into lots, each of which has an identifying cadastral number. Lots may be modified or subdivided. Such work is carried out by a surveyor (géomètre-expert).