Selling your house in France can be a challenging and stressful process. You want to get the best possible price for your property, but you also want to sell it quickly and smoothly. How can you determine the market value of your house without hiring an expensive appraiser? One simple and convenient way is to use Leboncoin.fr, a popular online platform for buying and selling goods and services in France. It can help you get a good idea of how much your house is worth based on the prices of similar houses in your area. Here are some steps to follow:
- Go to Leboncoin.fr and search for houses for sale in your area. You can filter by location, price range, type of property, number of rooms, etc. You will see a list of ads with photos, short descriptions, and prices, as shown below
- Compare your house with similar ones on the website. Look for houses that have the same or similar characteristics as yours in terms of:
- The age or construction date of the house. This can affect the structural condition, the style, and the charm of the house. A newer house might have more modern features and amenities, but an older house might have more character and history.
- The situation or location of the house. This can affect the accessibility, the convenience, and the attractiveness of the house. A house in town might have more shops, services, and public transport nearby, but a house in the countryside might have more space, privacy, and nature around.
- The quality of finishing or renovation of the house. This can affect the comfort, the functionality, and the appeal of the house. A well-maintained and updated house might have more efficient systems and appliances, but a poorly maintained and outdated house might need more work and investment.
- Check the price per square meter of each house. Examples are numbers 1 & 4 on the screen shot above. You can find this information in each ad on Leboncoin. In the image above you see the price is roughly between 1600 and 2200 euros/m2. You can take an average and multiply this number by the living space of your house to get a rough estimate of its value. For example, if a similar house in your area has a price of 2000 euros per m2 and your house has 100 m2 of living space, then your estimate is 2000 x 100 = 200000 euros.
- As you can see, some houses are worth more per m2 than others. Adjust your estimate according to different factors that affect the price. These include:
The size of the house. Really big houses are usually a bit less per m2 than small ones (the number 5 on the image, that shows two similar apartments with different prices per m2).
- The energy efficiency of your house. A house with a high energy rating (A or B) is more attractive and valuable than a poorly insulated one (F or G). It means that it consumes less energy and produces less greenhouse gas emissions. It also means that it is more comfortable and cheaper to heat or cool.
- The extras that your house offers. A pool, a large plot of land, a beautiful view, or a quiet location can increase the appeal and the price of your house. They can make your house stand out from other similar ones and attract more buyers who are looking for something special.
- The selling method that you choose. If you sell your house by yourself (FSBO), you can save on the agency commission (usually 6% of the selling price) and offer a lower price than if you use a real estate agent. If you use a real estate agent, you can benefit from their expertise and network, but you will also have to pay them a fee for their services (the number 2 on the image: PRO means the house is sold via an agency and will therefore be a bit more expensive to buy.
Remember that the prices on Leboncoin are asking prices, not selling prices. Most sellers expect some negotiation and are willing to lower their price to close the deal. You should do the same.
Oh, and the number 3 on the image also gives you an inkling that it is a 'PRO' seller, because private sellers ususally have less images. Ads with max three images are free on LeBonCoin.