Buying or selling a house in France? Know what you are really signing for.
An independent building survey helps international buyers understand the property, identify warning signs and estimate repair costs before committing. Sellers can also present their home professionally and reduce uncertainty from the first visit.
A French diagnostic file is not a full building survey
The compulsory French property diagnostics cover defined regulatory subjects such as energy performance, asbestos, lead, termites or electrical and gas installations. They do not provide a complete assessment of the building’s condition, the causes of cracks, the roof, dampness or the probable cost of repairs.
The independent building survey answers the questions that matter before a purchase
- Are the cracks cosmetic, active or compatible with a structural movement?
- What is the condition of the roof, roof structure and visible waterproofing?
- Where can humidity, infiltration or poor ventilation come from?
- Which repairs are urgent, which can wait and what budget should be expected?
- Do visible alterations, extensions or technical choices require further checks?
- What should be discussed with the seller, notaire or contractor before signing?
Your future home is examined as a building, not as a sales brochure
Stevens Guingand, independent building expert, inspects the accessible parts of the property, studies the documents available during the appointment and uses the instruments appropriate to the suspected defects.
Structure and cracks
Foundations, load-bearing walls, floors, extensions, retaining structures, deformation and cracking patterns.
Roof and waterproofing
Tiles, flashings, gutters, visible roof structure, terraces and signs of water ingress.
Damp and ventilation
Moisture readings, thermal anomalies, condensation, infiltration and ventilation defects.
Works and alterations
Visible workmanship, extensions, openings, joinery, insulation and interactions between old and new work.
Repair costs
Quantified repair scenarios, priorities and the additional studies or contractors to consult.
French framework
Reading of available contracts, construction rules, DTU standards and useful evidence for the next step.
Protect yourself before — and after — the purchase
In French law, a “vice caché” is not simply a defect discovered after completion. The facts, the seriousness of the defect, its prior existence and the evidence available all matter. Building expertise documents the technical reality without replacing the notaire or lawyer.
- Photographic and measured evidence
- Analysis of probable causes and chronology
- Consequences for use, safety and value
- Repair recommendations and quantified costs
- Support for amicable, contradictory or legal steps in France
Make a decision with facts, not pressure
A beautiful Provençal house can also contain structural movements, an ageing roof, rising damp, unrecorded alterations or repairs that were only cosmetic. The purpose of the survey is not to frighten you: it is to reveal what must be understood before your money and your family’s project are committed.
- Confirm whether the property matches your plans
- Prepare questions for the seller and notaire
- Negotiate with an objective repair budget
- Know which specialist study is genuinely necessary
- Keep a clear record of the property at the time of the visit
Present your property professionally without estate-agency brokerage
Sellers who manage their transaction directly can receive professional support for the presentation of the property while keeping control of the sale and their relationship with the buyer.
Professional visual presentation
- Interior and exterior photography
- Drone views when appropriate
- Video and 360° presentation
- Selection and organisation of the strongest visuals
- Clear presentation of the house and its setting
A distinct and transparent role
The service concerns the building, its presentation and the clarity of the information provided. It does not include estate-agency negotiation, buyer representation, legal drafting or collection of a commission on the sale.
From your first message to a usable building-expertise report
You keep one direct contact: the building expert who prepares the mission, attends the property and explains the findings.
Tell me about the property
Send the location, stage of the purchase or sale and the points that concern you. The scope, fee and timing are confirmed before the visit.
On-site building survey
The property and the documents available at the appointment are examined. Drone, thermal imaging, moisture readings, crack measurements or inspection camera are used when relevant.
Findings, costs and next steps
You receive clear explanations, repair priorities, quantified costs and, according to the mission, an illustrated building-expertise report usable for your decisions in France.
One trusted contact across the main property markets of South-East France
Building expertise for houses, apartments and small residential buildings throughout Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Vaucluse.
Designed for English-speaking buyers and sellers in France
The page and service presentation are written to make the French process understandable. Technical conclusions remain based on the property, the available evidence and the French construction framework. When legal or notarial advice is required, the building expert identifies the technical questions to take to the appropriate professional.
Buying property in France: practical answers
These answers clarify the role of an independent building expert. The exact scope always depends on the property and the decision you need to make.
Do French property diagnostics replace a building survey?
No. The diagnostic file contains compulsory reports with a regulated scope. An independent building survey assesses the condition of the property, visible defects, probable causes, repair priorities and costs.
When should I book the survey?
As early as possible before a binding commitment, while there is still time to understand the findings and discuss them with the seller and notaire. The appropriate timing depends on the stage of your purchase.
Can you inspect an old stone or Provençal house?
Yes. Traditional masonry, timber floors, old roofs, extensions, hillside plots, retaining walls, humidity and previous alterations are examined according to the building’s construction and accessible areas.
What happens if a defect appears after the purchase?
The building expert can document the defect, analyse likely causes and chronology, quantify repairs and prepare the technical evidence required for an amicable, contradictory or legal process.
Are you an estate agent?
No. Detective Immo provides independent building expertise and professional property presentation. There is no brokerage mandate, sale negotiation or commission on the transaction.
Which areas do you cover?
Forcalquier, Manosque, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Avignon, Gap and the surrounding areas across departments 04, 05, 13, 83 and 84.
Before you commit your savings to a house in France, speak directly with the building expert who will inspect it.
Tell me where the property is, what stage you have reached and what worries you. I will define the useful scope of the building expertise with you.