Apartment hunter, real estate agency: what is the difference (s)?
Are you looking for an apartment? Who should you refer to? In the city of Paris alone, there are around 2,000 real estate agencies, each offering its own apartments for sale. Finding an apartment can become a real headache. In order not to waste time on unnecessary visits, calling on a real estate hunter is a solution.
The real estate agency
The agency is responsible for selling apartments, houses, lofts, duplexes. Some specialize in luxury properties, atypical apartments and even some on the ground floors. However, most of the time, they are located in a neighborhood and sell real estate only in their area.
The real estate agency signs a contract (sales mandate) with the sellers. She represents them and defends their interests. Agencies manage a portfolio of apartments that they generally do not share with other agencies.
When a buyer calls them, too often, the agency does not have in its portfolio the property that could correspond to his search, it tries to sell him what could be more or less suitable. In addition, they sometimes show property just to show the owner that they are doing their job and then convince him that the property is overvalued. This explains the unnecessary visits, an unpleasant moment for the buyer.
Fortunately, there are many conscientious real estate agents who will not push buyers to visit apartments unnecessarily. But how do you avoid the others?
The real estate hunter
He does not have any apartments for sale. He signs a contract with the buyer (search mandate) and takes note of his specifications. The real estate hunter will review the entire real estate market, select the ads and visit alone at first.
When an apartment corresponds very precisely to the buyer's search, he makes a second visit with the buyer.
Finally, once the hunter has found the rare pearl, he advises the buyer in order to negotiate the apartment, house or loft at the best price.
The apartment hunter then organizes the signatures with the notaries. It can also present to the purchaser brokers, architects, decorators...
The aim of the apartment hunter:
- Don't waste the buyer's time
- The advisor so that he buys a quality property and makes a good investment
- Make the buyer benefit from his network
We can only recommend and advise Parlez-moi de Paris for your real estate searches. We contacted them in September 2024 and our interlocutor, Olivier, was able to understand our request and refine our search criteria. He has shown patience and commitment to our project and thanks to him we have an apartment that we would not have had access to without his network and his knowledge. Thanks to Olivier and to the Parlez-moi de Paris team.
After having had a very disappointing experience with an apartment hunter for a year, given that we live abroad, in February I contacted “Parlez-moi de Paris” and from the first meeting with Susan we were reassured and comforted! And already in June, we signed the bill of sale! She immediately identified our priorities and needs, she has a gift for listening and feeling the other person. Very responsive, always available, calm and very professional, she accompanied us in all the procedures with the notary and even showed us the neighborhood that we did not know at all! A very nice experience!
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Suzan on two common issues and everything went well. She was very involved, available and efficient from start to finish, resulting in a smooth and timely transaction. It is a real pleasure to work with such a serious professional, whom I highly recommend!
