Buying any house can be a risky business but an unfamiliar housing market and differences in French regulations and standards can add to the challenges faced by buyers, sellers and owners in France.

With over 30 years of experience in the building industry and 12 years providing survey and professional advice to clients, Southern France Surveys has the skills you need and in-depth knowledge of the French system to ensure peace of mind before, during, and after the sale or purchase of a property in France.

Buying a home is often the most important purchase of our lives. But, unlike most other purchases, there is no money-back guarantee or return policy if you later find out that it does not live up to your expectations.

The only way to avoid this is to have all the information in your hands before you go through with a purchase.

When you purchase a property in France there are a number of there are several compulsory diagnostic surveys that are legally required before a property sale can complete. These basic French building surveys check lead and asbestos levels, fungal or beetle infestations of any woodwork, and also include the Diagnostic Performance Energétique (DPE) test that relates to power consumption and insulation. They are commonly grouped together as a single report known as the Dossier de Diagnostic Technique(Technical Diagnostic File) or “DDT”. 

What is not included in these mandatory surveys is a study of the building itself and any structural defects.

For peace of mind, most International buyers and increasingly many French buyers, also commission an independent building survey, which compliments the DDT and gives total piece of mind before committing to a sale.