So you found a villa you like and you want to make an offer. First, read this guide on how to determine a villa’s market value, so you know what price to offer. Your offer price should be based on the current market value of the villa — not the seller’s asking price.
Second, make sure that you’ve read all our guides and have collected the diagnostics reports, checked on the zoning, and done all the other things we recommended.
Once you’re sure you’ve been thorough, and you’re ready to make an offer, here’s how to do it:
Remember: All the prices you see advertised have one thing in common: so far, no-one has agreed to pay that price. Don’t believe agents when they say that other people have been interested at high prices.
Agents are usually mandated by their corporate agency not to let buyers submit ‘market value’ offers (in an effort to manipulate market prices and because they could be making steady income off it by facilitating vacation rentals). Expect that agents will lie to discourage you from submitting an offer much lower than asking. Your offer should ideally go directly to the owner (via a sealed letter in their mailbox), or otherwise go through a notaire — one you chose, not one the agent recommended — but know that once the agent gets the offer from the notaire, they may simply not give it to the owner.
