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Our 'Property Poll' was the first poll of its type, and was carried out across a span of 3 months. It reveals some very interesting results. The poll was completed by over 500 foreign property buyers - all of whom had bought property in the Languedoc region of southern France.
By a margin of 3-to-1, respondents felt that ‘French estate agent commissions are daylight robbery’. A small majority also feared that French estate agents inflate prices for foreign buyers. So in terms of value for money, buyers felt agents were hugely over-paid. With commissions in the UK, for example, only about 1,5%, the 5-10% earned by French estate agents was resented.
 We paid 7% to our agent – and for that got poorly written property details with awful photographs. I just don’t understand why their commissions are so high. Maybe that’s why there are so many of them!” – Steve Craig
There are many sharks in the industry who will inflate prices exorbitantly when they see you are a foreigner and try to pull all kinds of dirty tricks to seal a deal. Go on recommendation if possible.” - Sharon Black
The quality of service offered by French estate agents generated mixed responses - with 50% of respondents feeling agents ‘didn’t listen to our brief - they just showed us what they wanted to sell’ - and 50% saying that ‘French estate agents were responsive and helpful.’
“The estate agents almost never called us with house listings that fit our requirements.” - Don Weedman
“French agents have take it or leave attitude.” - Barry Lester
British estate agents operating in France were also highly criticised for taking to much while adding little to the process.
“I know of Brits being done and overpaying so-called British "property finders" who overcharge unnecessary services” - Ruth Negri
“Seriously pissed off by the 'hidden' fee payable to a large British property organisation - they did very little work for their money (I speak fluent French) PLUS they didn't actually translate all the documents they said they had." - Isobel Evans
Most felt that British-based middle men were unnecessary - and that a good and trusted local agent plus searching direct on the internet and/or driving around towns asking in Town Halls about property for sale - was enough to find what they were looking for. Good agents, however, were highly valued.
“I have a lot of respect for honest French estate agents because the job, when done properly, is demanding and extremely time consuming.” - Sharon Black
Perhaps this is an opportunity for agents to offer a higher level of service - with improved property details and a more responsive attitude to clients’ briefs. Or an opportunity for sellers to sell property direct - through property websites such as Creme-de-Languedoc.com.
A buoyant market
By a 3-to-1 margin, respondents felt that ‘there are bargains to be had - if you look hard enough’. This is in line with recent official figures released by FNAIM, the French association of estate agents, that suggest prices for property in Languedoc are still low compared to Provence and still growing at a much higher rate.
The caveat of ‘if you look hard enough’ was further explained by the fact that, again by a 3-to-1 margin, respondents felt that ‘I found properties shown to me by estate agents to be pretty shoddy’. The low quality of property in the area is probably the result of decades of under-investment, caused by once-low prices and a flat market - before the market started to accelerate in the past 5 years. Clearly, then, good quality properties are still relatively hard to find, but once discovered, offer excellent value for money and healthy investment potential.
This finding is further backed up by the fact that, by a huge margin of 5-to-1, respondents felt that property in the Languedoc region ‘is still a good investment - prices are rising well.’
Most found the French property buying process easy to understand, and a small majority felt it was worth appointing ‘your own notaire - or English legal advisor when buying property’.
Conclusion
Overall - despite reservations about estate agent commissions and low levels of service, buyers seem very optimistic about the value that property in France and in Languedoc in particular, offers, with the caveat that finding that ‘bargain’ requires some effort and persistence on the part of the property hunter.
Read the advice our respondents had for those planning to buy property in France:
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