Method
A report the reader can check line by line
The report is written to be read by a notaire, a lawyer, a tax inspector or a judge, in France or abroad. It must let them follow the reasoning without taking my word for it. Every rule cited on this page links to its source text.
- Expert registered with the RENNES Court of Appeal
- Charte de l’expertise 2025
- EVS 2025 TEGOVA
- Professional indemnity insured
Process
Four stages, from contract to debriefing
Engagement contract
You describe the situation in writing or by phone. The quote, which becomes the engagement contract once signed, states the subject, the purpose, the valuation date, the standards applied, the work included and excluded, the documents to provide, the timeframe and the price (Charte, Title II, §9.1).
Inspection and collection
The very word “expertise” implies an inspection of the property (Charte, §1.1). Measurements, photographs, interview with the occupants. In a joint assignment, the parties are convened and present.
Analysis and calculations
Study of the title, planning rules and leases. Comparables from the French DVF land registry data, notarial databases and my own databases. Methods chosen according to the property and cross-checked when it lends itself to it: no method is universal (Charte, Title III, ch. 8).
Report and debriefing
A written report, clear and precise, which justifies its conclusions and sets out its methodology (Charte, §4.1.1). In court-ordered work, a preliminary report is submitted for the parties’ observations (art. 276 CPC). A debriefing is included.
The report
What the report contains
- Engagement contract: client, subject, purpose, basis of value, valuation date, applicable standards
- Documents examined and documents missing, assumptions adopted
- Legal description: title, easements, planning, leases, co-ownership
- Physical description: floor areas, condition, fittings, surveys, nuisances
- Analysis of the market and local factors
- Comparables identified one by one, with source and adjustments
- Methods applied, detailed calculations, weighting
- Value adopted, reservations and limits of use of the report (Charte, §4.1.8)
- Appendices: plans, dated photographs, cadastral extracts, supporting documents
The Charte distinguishes the detailed valuation report, the summary report, the valuation certificate and the desktop opinion prepared without inspection (Title II, chapters 1 to 3 and §8.6). The format adopted is stated in the contract. Reports can be delivered in English, with the French legal terms kept and explained. See also What a valuation report contains.
Bases of value
A value only makes sense against its definition
The report always names the basis adopted and the standard that defines it.
Market value
The estimated amount for which the property should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing, each party acting knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion (EVS 2025, EVS 1; Charte, Title III, §1.1).
Market rent
The estimated amount for which the property should be leased on the valuation date between a willing lessor and a willing lessee on the terms of the actual or assumed lease (EVS 2025, EVS 1; Charte, Title III, §1.4).
Mortgage lending value and prudent value
Long-term values, excluding expectations of price rises, used by lenders; prudent value within the meaning of the CRR regulation is addressed by guidance note EVGN 2 of EVS 2025 (Charte, §1.15 and §1.16).
Investment value, fair value
Value to a given investor; fair value within the meaning of IFRS 13 for financial statements (Charte, §1.3).
Value before and value after
The difference between the value without the disturbance and the value with it: this is the measure of loss adopted by the courts.
Value at a past date
Value on the date of death, of dissolution of the matrimonial regime, of a tax reassessment or of a disputed sale, established with the references of the time.
Professional conduct
Oath, insurance, independence
Oath
Registered on the list of court experts of the RENNES Court of Appeal since 2019, I have sworn to carry out my assignments, report and give my opinion on my honour and conscience (article 6 of law no. 71-498 of 29 June 1971).
Insurance
Professional indemnity insurance dedicated to property valuation, as required by the Charte (Title I, §2.3): Protexi Assurances, contrat n° 11077698304. The policy terms are provided on request (§2.3.4).
Independence
No interest in the properties valued, no estate agency or management activity, fees never linked to value (Charte, Title I, §2.1, ch. 3 and §4.1). Conflicts of interest checked before every assignment, withdrawal in case of doubt (§4.1.1 and §4.1.3; article 237 of the Code of Civil Procedure in court-ordered work).
Reference texts
The rules this site cites, and where to read them
Law no. 71-498 of 29 June 1971 on court experts
Probationary registration for three years then re-registration for five years (art. 2); title “expert près la cour d’appel de…”, followed by the speciality (art. 3); oath to carry out the assignment, report and give an opinion on one’s honour and conscience (art. 6).
Read the textDecree no. 2004-1463 of 23 December 2004
Conditions of registration and re-registration on the lists, nomenclature of headings (order of 5 December 2022, heading C.18 Property valuation, in force since 1 January 2024).
Read the textOrder of 5 December 2022 (nomenclature)Code of Civil Procedure, articles 232 to 284-1
Personal performance of the assignment (art. 233), conscience, objectivity and impartiality (art. 237), opinion limited to questions of fact (art. 238), no direct payment from a party (art. 248), consideration of the parties’ observations (art. 276), specialist assistant (art. 278), filing of the report (art. 282), fee set by the judge (art. 284).
Read the textCharte de l’expertise en évaluation immobilière, 6th edition, November 2025
Definitions and assignment formats (Title I, §1.1), fees never linked to value (§2.1), duty of care (§2.2), compulsory professional indemnity insurance (§2.3), independence and conflicts of interest (ch. 3 and 4), report formats and engagement contract (Title II, chapters 1 to 3 and §9.1), bases of value and methods (Title III).
Read the textEuropean Valuation Standards 2025, TEGOVA
Definitions of market value and market rent (EVS 1), bases of value other than market value (EVS 2), valuation process and terms of engagement (EVS 4), reporting (EVS 5), valuation for mortgage lending (EVGN 2).
Read the textLPVI, member of TEGOVALinks open in a new tab. Most of these texts are in French. The Charte de l’expertise en évaluation immobilière is protected by intellectual property rights held by the Comité d’application de la Charte. The EVS are published by TEGOVA in English. List of court experts: Rennes Court of Appeal.
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