What It’s Really Like Being an Estate Agent in France A personal note from me—because not every blog post has to be a how-to guide

I can’t say I stumbled into being an estate agent. Truth is, I’ve always had a thing for houses. While everyone else was getting lost in a novel, I was window-shopping on property websites—scrolling through listings, imagining life behind those shutters.

I still remember the excitement in the early 2000s when you could finally view properties online with a virtual tour. Oh, the thrill of a secret visit! A quiet obsession, maybe—but one that’s never left me.

I’ve always loved homes. Not just the bricks and beams, but the personal touches we all add to make a house truly ours. That led me to selling interiors first—importing French-style furniture, soft furnishings, and the odd one-of-a-kind quirky piece that could transform a room. And so it came as no surprise to those who knew me that I eventually graduated from dressing homes... to selling them.

But honestly? Nothing could have fully prepared me for the French real estate journey. No two days are the same. Some days are quiet—diary looking bare by Monday morning. But by quatre heure (with biscuit crumbs on my blouse), the whole week’s booked solid.

What Being an Agent Actually Involves

House selling in France isn’t quite like anywhere else. My job includes:

• Prospecting (hello, +10k steps a day in the early years!)
• Gaining trust to win a listing
• Valuing the property (some love it, others… not so much)
• Gathering endless paperwork for the mandat de vente
• Photographing and writing the listing
• Booking diagnostics, contacting water companies and Mairies
• Chasing builders for décennale insurance certificates
• Responding to buyer enquiries
• Conducting viewings—in all weather, on all terrain
• Negotiating offers (when they come)
• Digging around septic tanks (yes, sometimes literally) to locate them for the diagnostics
• Passing everything to the contracts team—or the Notaire

And if all goes well, after weeks of back-and-forth, signatures, delays, sighs, and smiles, we get to the Acte de vente. The big day. I do a final walkthrough with the buyers and sellers, then we trundle off to the Notaire’s office.

We sit around a table. The Notaire reads the contract aloud (every page), and everyone signs. I hand over the keys. ✨ It’s official.

You’d think that would be the end, right?

Not quite. I often stay involved—helping buyers set up utilities, translating over the phone, offering advice. Because many clients aren’t fluent, and frankly, even I used to dread calling SFR in French.

But What About the Pay?

Here’s the part that surprises most people:
No sale = no pay.
Nada. Zip. Rien.

I’m paid only when the property actually sells. And not the full commission either—just a percentage of what you see on the listing. It can be incredibly rewarding, yes, but it’s also why things get cutthroat fast.

Other agencies won’t give out property addresses. Why? Because the fear of being cut out of a deal is real. Even internally, agents can be protective. And I get it—one slip, and you could lose weeks (or months) of work and income.

Emotional Support? Part of the Job.

What no one tells you about this work is how emotionally loaded it all is. Every house has a story. Every seller has a reason—divorce, death, financial stress, family shifts. It’s rarely just about bricks and mortar. Sometimes I’m more of a therapist than an agent.

And buyers? They come with big dreams, hopes, and (sometimes unrealistic) expectations. My job is to guide them gently but firmly, to protect those dreams while keeping their feet on the ground.

It’s a delicate dance—carrying other people’s emotions, plans, and futures while still keeping the whole legal machine moving. I’m part project manager, part dream wrangler, part counsellor.

💬 Final Thoughts

Being an estate agent in France isn’t about glossy photos and “à vendre” signs. It’s about tenacity, diplomacy, improvisation, and having enough emotional stamina to handle the chaos behind every charming façade.

Would I trade it? Absolutely not. I love the people, the places, and the process—mad as it is.
But next time you see a listing or get a viewing confirmation? Just know there’s a whole unseen world of hustle behind it.

And if you ever need help navigating it all—well, you know where to find me.