Notaries' auctions

On the day of the sale your notary will meet the bidders. They make their bids themselves. The property is auctioned to the final and highest bidder.

On the Tuesday of the sale, your notary meets the buyers in the deposit room half an hour before the sale begins. They give him a cheque as a deposit for 20% of the fixed price and present some form of identification. They then sign an authorisation to bid. Your notary gives them a badge and they enter the salesroom.

After the presiding auctioneer has announced the conditions of sale at the Paris Notaries' Chamber, the lots are presented for sale, usually in the same order as the official program. Your notary will provide a brief description of your property. He will state whether there are any tenants, will give the fixed price and which preliminary expenses must be borne by the successful bidder. He then gives notice of any information that may add to or amend the specifications after they were signed.

The bidders make their bids by raising their hands to catch the attention of the auctioneer, and stating the number of their badge. The President of the sale asks for bids and confirms them as the sale proceeds by repeating them out loud, checking that the bidders are wearing their badge numbers and that they have paid the deposit for your lot.
A screen behind the platform displays the property for sale and the progress of the auction.

Sales take place "by the candle". This traditional sales method uses wicks which, when extinguished, emit a column of smoke that shows indisputably that they have gone out. After two candles have gone out in a row without a new bid having been received while they were burning (15 - 30 seconds), the lot is knocked down to the last bidder who offered the highest bid. The auction price and the successful bidder's badge number are announced by your notary.

After the completion of the sale your notary will draw up the auction statement which is subject to the rules governing notarial deeds. It is then signed by you or by the notary if you have given him authorisation to do so and by the successful buyer who is warned that there may be a higher bid if this is provided for in the contractual conditions. Immediately after the sale, your notary will return the deposit cheques to the unsuccessful bidders.

Important points

From the accounts office to the completion of the sale, an auction is held in such a way as to ensure maximum security.

Your notary will take care of everything from registering potential buyers to signing the auction statement.

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