Selling your house —
all the steps

Selling your home is often the most important financial transaction of your life. It involves numerous steps, deadlines to meet, and decisions that directly affect the final outcome. This guide covers the entire process—from the initial planning stages to handing over the keys.

1. Estimate the selling price

This is the foundational step. A fair price attracts the right buyers within a reasonable timeframe. An overpriced property stagnates on the market—and a property that lingers loses its appeal, even after a price drop. Conversely, an underpriced property causes you to lose part of your equity.

Several complementary approaches exist to estimate the value of your house:

• DVF (Land Value Requests) data — the official database of real estate transactions carried out in France, available free online. The most reliable reference for finding out actual selling prices in your area
• Online valuation tools are useful for a quick estimate, but limited for unusual or high-value properties.
• Compare with active listings — look at what's selling around you, at the same price and with the same features.
• The opinion of a professional — real estate agent, notary, or expert. Essential for properties of significant value or with unique characteristics.

2. Carry out the mandatory diagnostics

Before putting your property up for sale—and before publishing any advertisement—you must compile your Technical Diagnostic File (DDT). This is a legal requirement. Certain diagnostic reports must be included in the advertisement as soon as it is published online.

These assessments must be carried out by a certified professional, at your expense. Expect to pay between €400 and €900 for a complete report, depending on the size and age of the property.

3. Write and publish the advertisement

An effective real estate listing rests on three pillars: quality photos, a precise and honest description, and a price consistent with the market. The legally required information—surface area, energy performance certificate (EPC), price—must be included in the listing from the moment it is published.

Photos — the primary decision criterion

77% of buyers find their property online. Photos are what make or break an offer. The minimum requirement is around ten high-resolution photos, well-lit, of all rooms and outdoor spaces. Prior tidying and depersonalization are essential.

Choosing the right broadcasting site

The choice of website directly influences the quality of the leads received. For everyday items, large generalist platforms (PAP.fr, LeBonCoin, ParuVendu) offer a broad audience. For items valued at over €600,000, a specialized portal reaches a very different buyer—more qualified, sometimes international—that generalist platforms do not.

4. Organize the visits

The viewing is the moment when the buyer imagines themselves living there — or not. A few common-sense rules make a real difference:

• Ventilate and maximize natural light before each visit
• Organize, declutter, and depersonalize the spaces
• Prepare a presentation file: diagnostics, expenses, property tax, work carried out
• Check the visitor's financing capacity beforehand — a buyer without bank approval can waste several weeks
• Be responsive to appointment requests — a buyer who doesn't receive a reply within 24 hours moves on to the next one

5. Receive and negotiate offers

A purchase offer commits the buyer to acquiring your property at the proposed price—if you accept it. You can accept, reject, or make a counter-offer. In the market segment, negotiation margins are generally around 3 to 5%. Allow for some leeway if your property is listed slightly above your minimum price.

6. Sign the preliminary agreement and the deed of sale

Once an agreement is reached, the transaction takes place in two mandatory stages:

1. The preliminary sales agreement is a legally binding document for both parties. The buyer has a 10-day cooling-off period. A deposit (5 to 10% of the price) is paid. The preliminary sales agreement is generally signed within 2 to 4 weeks of the agreement.
2. The final deed of sale is signed at the notary's office 2 to 3 months after the preliminary sales agreement, once the suspensive conditions have been met. It is at this point that ownership is transferred and the price is paid to the seller. The notary fees (approximately 7-8% for existing properties) are the responsibility of the buyer.

7. With or without an agency — how to choose

Using an agency provides you with local market expertise, a network of qualified buyers, and the management of viewings. In return, the agency charges between 4% and 8% of the sale price in fees.

Selling without an agency allows you to keep your entire net selling price and maintain complete control of the transaction. You manage every step yourself — from advertising to negotiating.

The two options are not mutually exclusive. You can give a non-exclusive mandate to an agency while publishing your own private advertisement — the two channels target different buyer profiles and complement each other.

8. If your property is worth more than €600,000

Selling a valuable property follows specific rules. The buyer is different, the timeframe is often longer, negotiations are more demanding, and the quality of the presentation is crucial. For this type of property, a few points deserve particular attention:

• Valuation —automated tools have their limitations. A , independent valuation report gives you a solid foundation before putting your property on the market.
• The quality of presentation —carefully written description, Google search engine optimization, and attractive photos—is crucial. A premium buyer's first contact is online.
• The distribution channel — a specialized portal like Propriétés De Charme — broadcasts your listing to buyers who are specifically looking for what you are offering — in France and internationally, without any commission on the sale.
• Privacy — some portals allow you to avoid displaying your contact information directly in the ad; contacts are filtered and sent via email.

Also read: how to know the true value of your property before setting your selling price — and tips for successfully selling between individuals on the portal.