The opening of champagne is never mentioned in the sales agreement, and no one really finds the rule for it. Yet, this gesture continues to spark debates, expectations, or surprises among sellers, buyers, and professionals. For some, toasting is a must on the day of signing; others prefer simply to turn the page without raising a glass. This fuels discussions and minor tensions even at the notary’s office.
Under this seemingly trivial ritual, a blur sets in. Because while the fees or the agency’s commission are detailed in the compromise, the champagne remains a matter of local tradition or family habit. Sometimes the bottle arrives, sometimes it doesn’t. And no one really decides, neither the law nor customs, each has their own practice, varying from village to village.
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The sales process: roles to play, steps to take
It all starts well before entering the notary’s office. The seller meticulously prepares their home, tidying up, cleaning each room, thinking about what the buyer will look at first. On their side, the buyer envisions themselves, calculates their budget, and gathers information about the neighborhood. The professionals, notaries, agents, secure, explain, and follow each step to avoid unpleasant surprises. Everyone has their responsibility; there’s no room for improvisation.
At the moment of the compromise, the tension rises a notch. It is often at this moment that an unexpected detail resurfaces: the question of champagne. Regarding this, there is neither a legal article nor a contractual paragraph, only inherited practices or local customs. In search of more clarity, many consult who provides the champagne during a house sale according to Flash Immobilier: the answer is clear, nothing is imposed, everyone acts in their own way. Whether the bottle is brought by the seller, the buyer, or even the real estate agent, or whether no one thinks of it, it’s the habit or the mood of the day that decides, not a regulation.
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Fees, commissions, and conviviality: taking stock
Beyond the question of toasts, the real estate transaction remains primarily a series of practical decisions and expenses to anticipate. Each step requires understanding who pays for what, lest the celebration be cut short due to a misunderstanding.
When a compromise is signed, the buyer usually deposits a sum as a guarantee, most often between 5 and 10% of the total amount. Agency fees also vary: sometimes they fall on the buyer, sometimes on the seller, depending on the mandate concluded at the outset. It is not uncommon for a poorly explained point to create confusion and slow down the sale.
Here are the key fees to review before finalizing the transaction:
- Notary fees: as per French tradition, they are paid by the buyer, unless otherwise arranged.
- Agency fees: their allocation is specified in the signed mandate, it’s in black and white.
- Technical diagnostics: these regulatory checks fall to the seller, who must provide all necessary documents.
If there is a capital gain, especially when selling a property that is not the primary residence, taxation can quickly weigh in. Some may prefer to temper their festive impulses upon announcing the taxable gain. Thus, we see transactions punctuated by laughter and raised glasses, while others opt for sobriety, without ceremony.
Symbolic gestures or small ceremony: each to their own style
No guideline dictates the scenario. Sometimes the buyer brings a bottle of their choice, as a nod or a promise of a new beginning. Other times, the seller slips in a few words or a small memento with the keys, a way to pass on a bit of the spirit of the place. We also encounter real estate agents who improvise a toast, adding rhythm to the handover of documents.
The essence lies in a few things: sincerity, respect for the moment, and that handshake that signifies the transfer from one address to another. Here, no tradition is truly imposed; the magic happens when everyone finds their place at the transaction table. And the real celebration may just be the promise of pages to be written in a new setting.