Christopher SMITH is an English speaking property surveyor or "expert" who has been trained and qualified in France to carry out diagnostic surveys and pre-purchase property surveys on French soil.

Based in Brantôme in the Dordogne, France, Christopher carries out property surveys in the following departments: Dordogne, Charente, Charente Maritime, Haute Vienne, Gironde and the Lot et Garonne.

Diagnostic surveys are obligatory when selling a property in France and are referred to as 'expertises' or 'diagnostics immobiliers'. Christopher SMITH carries out all of the obligatory surveys :

• Lead paint (plomb)
• Asbestos (amiante)
• Termites (termites)
• Gas (gaz), electricity (électricité)
• Energy performance (performance enrergétique – DPE)
• Natural and technological risks and surface area as well as the complementary surveys demanded by 'notaires' such as swimming pool Security, 'état des lieux' and 'mise en co-propriété'.

While property surveys as known in the UK are not considered pre-requisite to purchasing property in France, Christopher SMITH carries out pre-purchase property surveys for those clients wishing to be reassured about the condition of their chosen property and wanting to avoid any hidden pitfalls.

Christopher is required by law (Le Décret 2010-1200) to be independent of all parties involved in the selling and buying of property and likewise has no links to any party involved in the building or renovating of properties. His sole activity is surveying – no project management is offered. Christopher is not a 'Chartered Surveyor' – this being a qualification applicable to property surveys in the UK.