6. A plus: "extendable" homes

A home in which you can make more space, thereby increasing its value, is worth more to you: a maid's room, even if in poor condition; a small attic or loft which can be converted; a basement, even a small one, which you could convert into a games room; high ceilings, with room to build a mezzanine; recesses, cubby holes and store rooms where you could fit an additional shower room, toilet or cupboard; large corridors or entrance halls which could subsequently be used to create bigger rooms, etc.

7. Not all additional facilities are of equal value

• Aesthetic improvements made by the former owner (including a fitted kitchen) will only have a minor effect.

• On the other hand, the presence of a swimming pool or automatic garden watering system add value to the property, as does a gas heating system, much more in demand than any other heating method.

• If you buy a house with several floors, the presence of a bathroom on each floor increases its value. If there is not yet a bathroom on each floor, consider whether it would be possible to install them in the future.

8. Don't forget the technical side...

• Find out the age of the property you are planning to buy and the date of any work carried out, plus what materials were used (stone, of course, but also brick is better than "cairon" blocks).

• Check the living space to ensure that you are not paying for square metres that don't exist. If you are not sure how to do this, ask a consumer or co-ownership association, or enlist the services of a specialist professional (surveyor).

• Check to see if the service ducts and utilities distribution system (water, electricity, etc.) are visible: any repairs will be cheaper. Find out if there is a crawl space.

9. Weigh up the disadvantages of the nature of the land...

• Find out if there are any easements (rights of way, water drawing rights, electricity pylon installation rights, etc.). Ask at the land registration service (private easements) and check the zoning certificate (public easements).

• If the land is unserviced, estimate the cost of connecting to the various networks, as this will help in negotiations.

• You may also be able to negotiate on the basis of the type of soil and subsoil, which affects the depth of foundations and the cost of drainage. Ask the neighbours about any problems (unstable ground, flooding, etc.)

10. For an overall assessment of the quality, get help from someone in the know.

• This could simply be a friend who knows about building, or a professional - an architect for example - who you can pay to provide you with a technical appraisal.

• If you are buying an expensive property, you can also have a full property appraisal carried out. This is a detailed and dated assessment of the property, taking into account for example its geographical situation, composition, state of repair, origin, easements, etc.