What detailed information about the specific property is made available to potential bidders ?

Two important documents are always drafted before the sale : the "cahier des conditions de la vente", which contains the auction particulars and the "procès-verbal descriptif", which is a descriptive report of the property prepared by a bailiff prior to the sale. Both documents are available for consultation at the court office.

The lawyer acting for the vendor (the term vendor is used in the present document to describe the party, which may be a bank for instance, who is forcing the sale of the property by auction) prepares a legal pack containing the "cahier des conditions de la vente" and other information. The pack includes the technical diagnosis file which includes information relating to : asbestos, risk of exposure to lead, the presence of termites, natural and technological risks, energy performance, gas installations, electrical installations and individual sewerage systems (including septic tanks).