Prestigious services from our luxury real estate agencies in Bordeaux and the Bassin d'Arcachon

The Sotheby’s International Realty and Sotheby’s networks span across the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Orient, Australia, Africa, Asia and of course, the whole of Europe and Russia. Our 1100 real estate offices and our auction houses cooperate closely together in order to put your property in the lime light and sell it. All the information is sent to all the offices around the world, not just our local contacts.

With its network of 1100 agencies on all 5 continents, and about 80 offices on the main markets of France and Monaco, Sotheby’s International Realty offers more than 1700 exceptional homes, strictly selected. An incomparable position to help you find the property of your dreams or sell the one you wish to part with.

Whether it is a pied à terre, a vineyard estate or a historical landmark, all the local offices of Sotheby’s International Realty France-Monaco offer a wide selection of amazing properties to discerning clients. The expertise and skill of our highly respected local agents enable every buyer to find the perfect property.

Buying in France requires several steps:
The research contract binds the potential buyer with the real estate agent and determines the parameters of the search.
The selling contract tying the seller and the buyer is mandatory and determines the essential conditions of the sale.
Once the offer is made and accepted by the seller, a ‘sous seing privé’ or ‘promise to sell’ is signed in front of an official solicitor. It is a binding contract stating the price, the terms of the sale and its general conditions.
When signing the ‘sous seing privé’, the buyer will give a deposit of 10% of the total amount which will be accounted against the agreed purchase price. He/she benefits from a 10 day ‘cooling off’ period during which he/she can change his/her mind and withdraw from the transaction.  The seller however cannot withdraw from it, without a very serious cause. After 10 days, the contract is binding.
The selling price includes the broker’s fee.
The final deed is signed in the sollicitor’s office (the notaire) by both parties about three months after the ‘sous-seing privé’. All the legal fees (around 7,2%) of the purchase price are paid either by the buyer or by the seller according to what is written on the selling contract.

Technical diagnostics required for real estate transactions in France

Any property sale in France requires the preparation of a Technical Diagnostics File (DDT), which must be provided to the buyer before the preliminary sales agreement is signed. This file has expanded significantly in recent years due to successive laws on energy transition and occupants' safety.

Energy Performance — The Energy Performance Certificate (DPE) is required for any property put up for sale. It is valid for 10 years for all certificates issued after July 1, 2021; DPE certificates issued between 2018 and June 2021 have automatically expired and must be renewed before the property is listed for sale. In addition to the EPC, an energy audit is now mandatory for the sale of any single-family home or single-owner building classified as E, F, or G. This document details the work to be performed and the expected savings, and determines eligibility for public subsidies such as MaPrimeRénov'. Furthermore, as of January 1, 2026, the collective EPC has become mandatory for all condominiums with 50 units or fewer for which a building permit was filed before January 1, 2013. 

Health and Safety — Asbestos and lead inspections ensure the health and safety of future occupants. A lead inspection (CREP) is mandatory for any property built before 1949, while an asbestos inspection is required for buildings with a building permit issued before July 1, 1997. 

Interior Systems — An electrical system inspection is required for any electrical system over 15 years old. The same applies to gas systems over 15 years old. For properties not connected to the public sewer system, an on-site sewage system inspection is mandatory; in the event of non-compliance, the buyer has one year after the sale to bring the system up to code. 

Risks and Environment — The Risk and Pollution Report (ERP) must be provided for any property located in an area covered by a natural, mining, or technological risk prevention plan, or in a seismic zone. This document informs the buyer of natural, industrial, or soil pollution risks that may affect the property. The presence of termites must also be assessed in geographic areas subject to a prefectural order.

Co-ownership measurement — For all co-owned units, the private area must be mentioned in the preliminary sales agreement and the final deed, in accordance with the Carrez Law. An accuracy error of more than 5% between the stated area and the actual area entitles the buyer to demand a proportional price reduction, even after the final signing. 

Note: Failure to comply with these requirements can have serious consequences: cancellation of the sale, a reduction in price, or even criminal penalties for the most sensitive inspections (energy performance, asbestos, lead). 

Sotheby’s organizes more than 350 auctions per year, mainly between London, Paris or New York. However, other auctions may take place in great capitals of the world, such as Hong Kong, Melbourne, Singapore, Geneva or Milano.
The lots are exposed to the public for about a week prior to the sale and presented in catalogs which are available a month before as well. They contain a detailed description of the goods, their origin, the bibliographic references and their estimated value. Those catalogs are available in several languages on the site www.sothebys.com before each sale. It is possible to download them so as to place a bid during a sale in person or by sending back the purchasing form which can be found at the back of the catalog or on line. Sometimes, it is even possible to bid on line directly or by telephone. Sotheby’s will invoice the buyer in addition to the winning tender.

The strength of our network is also based on connections via social networks.
Find all our most beautiful properties in preview on our account  @BordeauxSothebysInternationalRealty.

The strength of our network is also based on connections via social networks.
Find all our most beautiful properties in preview on our account Bordeaux Sotheby's Realty

The strength of our network is also based on connections via social networks.
Find all our most beautiful properties in preview on our account Youtube.