Property Viewing Slip: Complete Guide

The viewing slip (bon de visite) is a document signed by a prospective buyer during a property viewing, certifying that the estate agent showed them the property on a given date. This document does not constitute a purchase commitment nor an obligation to buy through the agent. Its legal scope is limited, but it serves as evidence in the event of a dispute over the agent’s commission.

Introduction

Every year, millions of viewing slips are signed in France, often without the buyer understanding their exact scope. The viewing slip regularly raises concerns: “Am I committed?”, “Can I view the same property with another agent?”, “What happens if I buy directly from the seller?”. These questions are legitimate and deserve clear answers.

In Paris, where a buyer searching alone views more than 40 properties on average before purchasing and often deals with several agencies, the viewing slip question is particularly relevant. This guide clarifies the document, its real effects and the precautions to take.

Contents

• What is a viewing slip?
• Does a viewing slip commit the buyer?
• Viewing slip and mandate: how do they relate?
• Can you view the same property with several agents?
• Does a property hunter ask you to sign a viewing slip?
• Frequently asked questions

What is a viewing slip?

A document drafted by the estate agent and presented to the visitor for signature before or after a viewing, to prove that the agent introduced the property. It is not governed by any specific legislation: it appears neither in the Hoguet law of 2 January 1970 nor in its implementing decrees.

The slip generally mentions the visitor’s identity, the property address, the viewing date, the agent’s and agency’s name, and sometimes the property price.

In the event of a subsequent sale of the property to that same buyer, the agent can use it to justify their fee claim. It is a professional custom, not a legal obligation.

It is important to distinguish the viewing slip from a sales mandate or search mandate. The viewing slip does not create a contractual relationship between the agent and the viewer. Only a mandate, a document regulated by the Hoguet law, establishes this relationship. To learn more about the legal framework for mandates, consult our article on the legal obligations of property hunters.

Does a viewing slip commit the buyer?

No. Courts treat it as a piece of evidence, not a contract: it attests to the introduction between the buyer and the property through the agent, it does not oblige anyone to buy through that agent.

Case law has progressively clarified this scope.

The Court of Cassation (France’s highest civil court) has ruled on several occasions that an estate agent cannot claim their fees solely on the basis of a viewing slip. To obtain payment of their commission, the agent must demonstrate three cumulative elements: the existence of a valid sales mandate signed with the seller, the fact that they were indeed responsible for the introduction that led to the sale, and that the sale actually took place.

The viewing slip serves to establish the second point. But without a valid sales mandate, the viewing slip is legally ineffective. An agent who shows a property without holding a mandate from the seller cannot claim fees, even if they have a signed viewing slip.

In practice, disputes arise when a buyer, having viewed a property with one agent, purchases the same property directly from the seller or through another agent. If the original agent holds an exclusive mandate, the situation is clear: their fees are due regardless of where the buyer came from. If the mandate is non-exclusive, the commission goes to the agent who actually brought the sale to completion.

Viewing slip and mandate: how do they relate?

The mandate founds the relationship, the viewing slip merely documents it. Under an exclusive mandate, fees are due whenever a sale occurs during the mandate period and the slip becomes secondary; under a non-exclusive mandate, it becomes the element that establishes which agent introduced the buyer first.

The sales mandate is the founding document of the relationship between the seller and the estate agent. It exists in two main forms: the non-exclusive mandate, which allows the seller to entrust the sale to several agencies simultaneously and to sell privately, and the exclusive mandate, which reserves the property’s marketing to a single agent for a set period.

When the property is under an exclusive mandate, the agent’s fees are due whenever a sale occurs during the mandate period, regardless of which intermediary introduced the buyer. The viewing slip then has secondary importance.

When the property is under a non-exclusive mandate, several agents can market it. The viewing slip then becomes a determining factor in establishing which agent actually introduced the buyer first. If two agents have shown the same property to the same buyer, it is generally the one who organised the first viewing (proven by the viewing slip) who is considered to have originated the introduction.

This situation is common in Paris, where the same apartment may be marketed by three or four agencies simultaneously. Buyers who view a property through multiple channels risk facing multiple fee claims. This is one of the reasons why working with a single property hunter in Paris considerably simplifies the process.

Can you view the same property with several agents?

Yes, there is no legal prohibition on it, provided the property is under a non-exclusive mandate. If you buy, it is the agent through whom the purchase offer was made and accepted who receives the commission, provided their mandate is valid.

However, this practice creates confusion and can generate conflicts at the time of sale.

If you have signed a viewing slip with agent A then view the same property with agent B, and you purchase through agent B, agent A could attempt to claim a commission. In practice, it is the agent through whom the purchase offer was made and accepted who receives the commission, provided their mandate is valid.

The best practice is to centralise your searches. Either you view properties yourself by contacting sellers or their agents directly, or you entrust your search to a property hunter who manages all viewings on your behalf. The second approach eliminates the problem of multiple viewing slips.

During your search, systematically check whether you have already viewed a property before scheduling a new viewing. Duplicates are common in the Parisian market, where the same apartment can appear under different listings, with varied photos, across multiple platforms.

Does a property hunter ask you to sign a viewing slip?

No. The hunter acts on behalf of the buyer under a search mandate and holds no sales mandate from the seller, so they need no viewing slip to justify their fees.

Their way of working is in that respect fundamentally different from a traditional estate agent’s.

When the hunter organises a viewing for their client, it is the seller’s agent who may ask the client to sign a viewing slip. The hunter is remunerated by their client on the basis of the search mandate. They do not need a viewing slip to justify their fees.

This distinction is fundamental. The property hunter aligns their interests with the buyer’s: they have no incentive to show unsuitable properties to accumulate viewing slips. Their objective is to find the property matching their client’s criteria, at the best price. To understand the full regulatory framework, consult our page on property hunter fees.

At Home Select, our hunters manage the entire viewing process. With over 1,200 mandates completed since 2011, we have established trusted relationships with Parisian agents, facilitating property access and smooth transactions.

Frequently asked questions

Am I obliged to sign a viewing slip during a property viewing?

No, nothing obliges you to sign a viewing slip. It is a unilateral document the agent asks you to sign to prove they showed you the property. You can refuse to sign it, even if the agent insists. However, refusing may complicate the relationship with the agent.

Can you contact the seller directly after signing a viewing slip?

Signing a viewing slip does not legally prevent you from contacting the seller directly. However, if the agent proves they originated the introduction and you purchased the property by bypassing them, they can claim their fees in court. Case law tends to favour agents in this situation.

What is the validity period of a viewing slip?

The law does not set a validity period for viewing slips. Some slips mention a duration (generally 12 to 24 months). Case law considers that beyond 18 to 24 months, the causal link between the viewing and the purchase is difficult to establish, unless the buyer clearly acted to circumvent the agent.

Does a property hunter require clients to sign viewing slips?

In principle, a property hunter does not ask their client to sign a viewing slip since they act on behalf of the buyer, not the seller. It is the seller’s agent who may request a viewing slip signature. The hunter is covered by the search mandate signed with their client.

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Would you like to be accompanied in your viewings by a professional who defends your interests? Our apartment hunters manage the entire search and viewing process in Paris and Ile-de-France. Contact us to entrust us with your project.