Buying a property is often a matter of love at first sight. But when you decide to buy a new home, you can't visit the property: you usually have to make do with simple plans. Here's our advice on how to make the right choice when buying a new home.

Meeting on site

Obviously, when buying a flat, its aesthetics, typology and condition are not the only criteria. Its geographical location is an essential element to take into account. Do you have children? You probably want a school nearby. What about shops, public transport...? Even if no stone has yet been laid, you can still go and see if the environment suits you, if the services you are hoping for are available in the neighbourhood, etc.

Study the plans

If you are considering a purchase in a particular property development, it is probably because you have been seduced by the show home that has been presented to you. But where will your flat be located in the complex designed by the developer? You can find out by studying the floor plan in detail - which will give you information about the orientation of the building, the various access points, the green spaces, etc. - and by booking early enough to have a choice. Otherwise, that top-floor flat with a south-facing terrace could well pass you by! The technical description is also a mine of information.

A virtual visit

With technological advances being what they are, more and more developers are offering you a virtual visit of your future home, in 360°. This allows you to visualise it, with the equipment and materials, but also to list any personalised fittings you may need, such as an extra cupboard, the replacement of the bath with a shower, different flooring in the bedrooms, etc. You can then quickly make a request.

Follow the steps...

These planning requests often occur at the time of the so-called reservation contract. This obliges you to block 5 % of the sale price in an account. It includes a description of the property and the materials used as well as the quality of the construction. However, it is rarely precise about the delivery date. For example, you will see the words "delivery expected in...".

... but take all the insurance

This will not be the case on the final sales contract. The builder must give you a date (one month). You can therefore negotiate compensation for delays, bearing in mind that those due to bad weather and other cases of force majeure will not be taken into account. You should also check that the builder has an external bank guarantee, which will reimburse you for any sums paid during the construction process in the event of default.