French estate agents are regulated by the Government and they must be professionally qualified and licensed.  They must also hold insurance. All agents must possess a carte professionelle, which is granted only to those with certain professional qualifications or considerable experience. The carte must be renewed annually and its number and place of issue should be shown on the agent's letterhead so it is important to check that when you employ an agent to show you properties. If in doubt, don’t be shy about asking to see his qualifications. Check that he is a member of a professional body, the three main ones being the Fédération Nationale de l'Immobilier (FNAIM, www.fnaim.fr), the leading French association of estate agents, the Syndicat National des Professionels Immobiliers (SNPI, ww.snpi.com) and the Union Nationale de la Propriété (UNPI, www.unpi.org).

To find an agent in a particular area, look under Agences Immobilières in the relevant French yellow pages (pages jaunes) available at main libraries in France. If using a local estate agent, it's best to go in person and check out the office for yourself. Ask to see the Carte Professionel and a Certificat d'Assurance before proceeding with any viewings.

You may be asked to sign a “Bon de Visite” before you start searching for a property with an agent in France.  This is quite normal and basically means the agent has power of attorney before they can negotiate any sale.  Note it also means the agent cannot buy the property for himself.

French estate agents will usually not advertise the precise location of any property since the competition between agents is high.  Once you decide to view any property you have seen either on the internet or in one of the free magazines posted throughout many French towns, most agents will be more than happy to arrange for viewings.

Agents’ fees are considerably higher than those in the UK and prices advertised normally include their fees (but do check this) which can vary from 5-10& of the purchase price.  The fees are paid by the buyer.  The upside of this is that French agents should do far more than simply finding you a house to buy; they are essentially there to offer a greater service often extending to helping you find your feet in your new home: assisting in opening a bank account, finding a doctor’s surgery, setting up your utilities and offering general information on the area.  A good agent will know he is essentially selling a lifestyle, not just a house, to his foreign clients.

A good agent will be happy to drive you to your appointments and set aside a whole day or more with a proper plan for viewings.  Properties may be far from each other and it is wise to be guided by the agent regarding appointments and driving distances. 

You are perfectly at liberty to employ the services of more than one agent and indeed most towns have many different agencies, meaning that you are in the driving seat and a good agent will know that.  Happy French house hunting!