Buying, step by step
Estate agency fees in France, clearly.
In France, agency fees follow precise rules on display and payment. Here they are, from the listing to the deed.
Contents
An agency acts under a written mandate from the seller, sometimes from the buyer. Its fee is set freely by each agency, but it must be shown in advance and it is only due when the sale is completed.
Shown in advance
Every agency must display its scale of fees, in the agency and on its website. Each listing shows who pays the fee. When the buyer pays it, the listing shows the price with the fee included and the fee as a percentage. Mine are on the fees page (in French).
Who pays
The fee is paid by the seller or by the buyer, as written in the mandate and the listing. There is no rule that one side must pay; what matters is that it is stated clearly, and that the total price is the one you agreed.
When it is due
The fee is due only when the sale is completed by the final deed. No money is due to the agency for a visit, an offer or a compromis that does not go through.
The effect on the notaire's costs
When the buyer pays the fee and it is written in the contract, the transfer taxes are calculated on the price without the fee, which lowers the buyer's notaire's costs a little.
Check the licence
An agency must hold a professional licence, the carte professionnelle, insurance and, when it holds funds, a financial bond. I work with the GRAVELIN IMMO agency, 30 rue Bannelier in Dijon; the mandates are signed in its name. I work in English and French every day. I also speak Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi fluently, Persian (Farsi) very well, and good Greek and Arabic.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the estate agent in France?
The seller or the buyer, as stated in the mandate and in the listing.
When is the agency fee paid?
Only when the sale is completed by the final deed, through the notaire.
Is the agency fee included in the price?
When the buyer pays it, the listing shows the price with the fee included and the fee as a percentage.
Can I negotiate the agency fee?
The scale of fees is set by each agency. What you negotiate in practice is the total price.