Dream Properties Dordogne

You have signed the first agreement and if you are raising a mortgage with a local bank then you have been to visit them and signed the necessary application forms. You know who the notaire is and the address of his or her office. This is also a good opportunity to open a French bank account. You now know where your local town is and which banks are available there.

There is no need to contact the water supply company and EDF/GDF for electricity (and town gas supplies where available) as  Dream Properties Dordogne always ensure you have running water and electricity in your house if there is already a supply.  We also help you to obtain a phone line. If there is no supply then it is up to you to contact the company and find out the procedure for connection and get an estimate (Devis) for the cost.

A French cheque book will come in very useful at the time of the completion and will be vital for setting up the equivalent of “direct debit” agreements with the French utility companies – you do not want your water cut off just because you do not get the bill in time. A French “carte bancaire” (CB) is extremely useful and makes most shop and supermarket purchases very simple.

If you spot a bookshop or newsagent in the town nearest your new purchase then see if they have a copy of a "large scale" map of the area around your new home. Look out for the blue covered 1:25000 scale maps published by IGN (Institut Geographique National). Depending upon when your new French house was built you should be able to quickly spot the relevant black blob marking it's location. The map will show you the individual fields, woods, rivers and ponds surrounding your new property as well as the footpaths and roads linking your new French home with nearby villages and hamlets.