Welcome all,
We are hoping to sell on of our properties but would like to get an idea of the value from a couple of immobilizes, are they likely to charge for this service?
Also, if having chosen our immobilier, we later for any reason (e.g. not happy with the service etc) decide to go elsewhere , what, if any financial penalties can we expect?
Thanks in advance

Hey Amir,
Most Immo's and Notaires will value property Free. The thing to avoid is signing an exclusive contract. This obviously limits you to one agent. You MAY find that the Notaires all inclusive fee of agency and Notaire, is cheaper [for the buyer ] than the Immo's fee when you add on the required Notaires fee. If you advertise it on one of the many property for sale sites and find your own buyer, you MAY be able to get a lower Notaire's fee of around 4.5%. There are a few Immo's who are lowering their fees now. As the property prices have risen by such an extent in the last 5 years I'm amazed at how they've managed to keep it so high. If you sign with an Immo I believe they have 3 months before you can change.
Thank you

Hello Amir
If you choose to go with a good agency their services are invaluable. Most will come and give you a valuation for free. You can choose to sign either an Exclusive or a Non exclusive mandate with them. They may charge you less commission for an exclusive mandate and of course will work very hard to ensure that they sell it for you, otherwise they know that you'll give your property to other agents as soon as the mandate time is over. Most mandates are for 3 months with a tacit renewal for up to a year. You can cancel your mandate via registered letter.
Agencies charge anything between 5 and 10% depending on the price of the property and it is worth your while to find out exactly what they will do to advertise your property (which papers, do they have a website etc) before you sign a mandate with them. You are probably best to either sign an exclusive with one very good agency or judiciously choose just 2 or 3 - otherwise co-ordinating visits with a plethora of agents can be a headache.
Good luck
Claire Healy
Attika International
Property in Nice & Property in Cannes

Most agencies will do a valuation for free. I would also say do not sign an exclusivity. I know Attika, and they are an excellent agency, however I would say many are not up to their standard and would not make the same effort even for an exclusivity. Most agencies charge a standard 5% TTC (inclusive of VAT). It can be more if it is a _very_ low budget property. There is no financial penalty for giving the property to a different agency if you haven't signed an exclusivity. As Joshua says, you can advertise and sell the property yourself, and then you do not have to pay any agency fees, but I do not see how you can negotiate lower Notaire fees as these are fixed by law and are mostly state tax.

Phillip.