The lawyer (Part I)

The contractor is obliged by law to detail, in a technical addendum annexed to the contract, the characteristics of the building and of the apartment.

It is recommended to obtain the addendum during the negotiations' stage and to read it carefully. This note also includes plans of the apartment, the corresponding floor and the land.

This addendum must be very detailed. It indicates at least the following elements:

• The features of the building and of the common areas (foundations, shelter, walls, stairwell, coating, building's front door, parking lot, garden…), including your share of the common areas.
• The characteristics of the apartment:
• Number and nature of rooms.
• Ceiling's height.
• Walls' coating.
• Nature and quality of tiling.
• Characteristics of doors, windows and blinds, including details by room.
• Woodwork.
• Sanitary elements (number, location, materials, dimensions, water-heating equipment..).
• Electric wiring and devices, including number and location of electric outlets.

The technical addendum and the plans are very important documents. They set the building obligations of the contractor towards you.