Viewing questions
French house viewing questions to ask
A French viewing can move quickly, especially if you are trying to remember the house, the journey and the agent's answers. Use these questions to slow the viewing down and capture what affects cost, comfort and risk.
First questions before you fall in love with it
- Why is the owner selling, and how long has it been on the market?
- What is included in the sale: land, barns, furniture, appliances, wood store or equipment?
- Are there any known offers, price changes or urgent timescales?
- Is the full diagnostic file available before an offer?
- Are there any known neighbour, access, boundary or right-of-way issues?
Structure, roof and damp
- When was the roof last repaired, and is there any invoice or guarantee?
- Have there been leaks, movement cracks, subsidence concerns or insurance claims?
- Are there cellars, earth floors, high ground levels or rooms that are hard to ventilate?
- Has any damp treatment been done, and what was the cause?
Services and running costs
- What is the main heating system, and when was it last serviced?
- Are the electrics and plumbing modern, partly updated or likely to need replacement?
- Is the house on mains drainage, or does it use a fosse septique?
- What are the approximate annual costs for energy, water, taxe fonciere and insurance?
French paperwork questions
- What is the current DPE rating, and when was the DPE completed?
- If the DPE is E, F or G, is an energy audit required or already available?
- If the house has non-mains drainage, is the SPANC report less than 3 years old?
- Are there planning permissions, declarations of works or guarantees for recent changes?
- What conditions could be included in the compromis de vente if something needs checking?
Questions after the viewing
- What would I need to quote before making the price feel real?
- Which risks would change my offer or make me walk away?
- Would the house still work in winter, during illness, or when driving less?
- Would I choose this house again after comparing it with two others?
This is a viewing prompt, not legal, financial, diagnostic or surveyor advice. Use qualified professionals for the decision points that matter.