The property search
What of the most important things we do as estate agents is to ascertain exactly what it is that the potential buyer is looking for. If you are with a French-speaking client, there are a few key, easy-to-learn, questions which you'll need to use with virtually any type of buyer. Let's see what they are.
Once meeting and greeting is out of the way you'll usually want to find out more about the type of property which the clients are looking for. Let's take a look at some of the key questions which a good estate agent will normally ask.
- Quels sont les endroits qui vous plaisent ?
Which areas do you like? - Préférez-vous cette partie du village, ou bien l´autre côté ?
Do you like this side of the village or the other? - Cherchez-vous une maison ancienne, ou une plus moderne ?
Are you looking for an old or a modern house? - De combien de chambres avez-vous besoin ?
How many bedrooms do you need? - Cherchez-vous une propriété de plus de 200 mètres carrés ?
Are you looking for a property of more than 200m2?
What the clients will say:
About the type of house...
- Nous souhaitons une maison moderne, mais avec un certain charme.
We'd like a modern house, but with charm. - Il est absolument nécessaire que la maison dispose d´un garage.
It's essential that the house has a garage.
About the areas they like, or don' t like:
- Nous aimons beaucoup la zone de l´Avenue de Toulouse et ses alentours.
We really like the area around Avenue de Toulouse. - Nous n´aimons pas Els Caials, car c´est beaucoup trop loin.
We don't like Els Caials because it's too far. - Nous préférons bien plus cette partie du village.
We like this side of the village a lot more.
Thanks for visiting!
Some other stuff here
This Course
Business French
Our Business French course is designed to get you working in French as quickly as possible. The course contains sections on meetings and the telephone, as well as French for finance and practical workplace French (The type of practical phrases you'll need in a French-speaking office).
We are also working on a series of sector-based courses. First up is a set of classes for estate agents and property buyers.
Other sections in this course
Real estate
Whether you're selling property in Provence or working with clients in Paris, the type of vocabulary you'll need isn't going to vary much from place to place.
Speaking on the Phone
Speaking on the phone can be one of the most difficult tasks in any foreign language. In this course we'll take you through all the basics, from answering the phone, to taking messages or giving excuses when your boss hasn't come back from lunch.
French for Meetings
Need to attend a meeting with French-speaking clients?
In this section we'll cover everything from arranging dates and sending invitations, to writing agendas, through to summarising the agreements reached at the meeting.
In a French-speaking office
Dont' know how to ask for a stapler? In this section we'll take you through all those useful little phrases and questions for office life that other courses just don't cover.
Finance and Numbers
How do we present numbers and talk about financial information in French? In this section we cover the basics (the numbers in French!) as well as how to present graphs, sales results, or complicated statistical data.
Real estate
Other classes in this section:
Estate agents: Getting started
This first class in our section on English for Estate Agents looks at some of the most important questions which you'll want to ask a new client. We'll also take you through the most usual responses you'll hear from clients.
Talking about properties
How to describe the main characteristics of a property and its location.
Arranging Property Viewings
Need to organise a viewing, meeting or other business engagement with a French-speaking client? This article forms part of our course on French for (Real) Estate Agents, but it should also prove useful for professionals in other sectors too.
Talking about Offers
Who doesn't like receiving an offer for a property? Unfortunately, we'll probably have to do quite a bit of work before we get an offer, or at least one which is likely to be accepted. So, in this class, let's look at different ways of talking about, making, and reacting to, offers.
The property search
Understanding what the client is looking for is an absolutely essential part of being a successful estate agent. With French-speaking clients there are a serious of fairly standard questions which you'll need to use in order to find out what type of property the client wants.
Location, location, location...
How can we talk about the location of a property in French? What's the best way to describe the area, and talk about it's pros and cons. How can we talk about the distance to a town centre, shopping centre or beach?
Installations
Don't you just hate it when potential start asking technical questions about the heating system or electric wiring? However, it's inevitable that clients will have quite a few questions about the installations of a house, from the plumbing to the hot water, and lots else besides.
The property market
It's not just estate agents, but a whole range of professionals, who will find themselves having to explain aspects of the property market to clients, colleagues or suppliers.