The first step when you are buying or selling a property is to sign a "Compromis de Vente" - a preliminary sales contract that can be signed privately or with the notary.  Wherever it is signed, the SRU Law of the 13th of December 2000 grants a 7 day revocation or reflection period from the date of signature of the "Compromis de Vente". This period allows the buyer to cancel the purchase of the property without paying any compensation.
Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that certain certificates are mandatory for the sale to be effective:

The Measurement Certificate or "Loi Carrez":

This certificate only concerns blocks of individually owned real estate.  It obliges the seller to include the surface area of the property sold in the sale or purchase documents and in all sales contracts. In the absence of this information, it is possible to annul the notarial deed establishing the sale. In addition, if the total surface area noted on the documents is inaccurate and superior by more than 5% to the real surface area, it is possible to ask for a price decrease, proportional to the surface area discrepancy.

The Asbestos Diagnosis:

The asbestos diagnosis concerns all collective or private buildings which were finished before the 1st of January 1997.

The Lead Diagnosis:

All sales of buildings constructed before 1948 and located in a risk area determined by the Prefect, require the addition of a lead diagnosis (made less than one year before) to the sale or purchase documents, or to any act noting or establishing the sale.

Termites and Other Parasites:

The regulation relating to the fight against the propagation of termites and other parasites apply to all buildings and plots of land, whatever their construction or affectation date (living, commerce, office...) if they are located in a risk zone determined by the Prefect or the Mayor. A certificate dating less than 3 months will have to be added to the final sales contract.