10 questions to ask a real estate hunter

Do you want to use a real estate hunter for your purchase project, but you do not know how to choose your provider? It is a relatively new profession that can be difficult for a buyer to understand. We therefore reveal 10 questions to ask a real estate hunter to make the right choice.

What is your experience as a real estate hunter?

The first question to ask a real estate hunter is based on his experience. Knowledge of your sector or the type of property sought is essential: the real estate hunter must know the best streets and neighborhoods, be able to detect the potential of a property, etc. This requires specialized know-how and good real estate expertise. He must also master the process of buying a property and have finalized several transactions from A to Z. Make sure that he has a real estate transaction card and a valid financial guarantee.

Do you have a network of partners?

A good real estate hunter must also benefit from a very good network (brokers, contractors, architects, notaries, etc.). Among the questions to ask a property hunter, this one allows you to know if the professional will be able to find rare properties and be the first to visit. Its structure must have a good reputation and credibility on the market to open doors for you. The success rate and the number of projects completed represent two key indicators of the strength of the hunter ecosystem.

What methods do you use to search for the goods?

The third question to ask a property hunter concerns his tools and processes. He must use several different sources of information to find interesting properties and be more responsive than other agents. This allows you to be comprehensive about your purchase criteria. Online real estate portals, classified ads, auctions, real estate agency windows, “for sale” signs: the real estate hunter must multiply the means to obtain a global vision of the offer of properties for sale and to make a selection for you.

Do you work in a team or alone?

A real estate hunter can work in a team or alone, which is not the same for the multiplication of efforts. More often than not, a traditional hunter will work alone. However, there are networks of independent non-paid hunters who meet sometimes during the month to share their expertise. In the questions to ask a real estate hunter, do not hesitate to ask him how he is organized, if he takes advantage of a team or not.

How long does it take you on average to find a property for your customers?

Here, don't expect a specific figure since everything depends on each request. However, this question to ask a real estate hunter makes it possible to assess the potential of offers on the current market according to your search in order to exploit it to the maximum. You can also ask if the properties are easily found in general, if they are properties with strong competition and if your budget is suitable for finding a property that suits you quickly.

What is your relationship with transparency, efficiency and reliability?

Before hiring a real estate hunter, it is essential to understand his value frame of reference and the corporate culture of his agency. When asking a property hunter, make sure they are transparent when offering and advising you. Indeed, a culture that is a bit too commercial can push you to make an offer on a particular property for hidden reasons. You should have no doubts about the sincerity of the advice given by the hunter.

What is your follow-up process to keep me informed of your research?

To project yourself into collaboration, this question to ask the real estate hunter about the follow-up of procedures is essential. The hunter will prospect and pre-visit numerous properties in order to show you only a small part of them. Every professional works differently and there is no right or wrong way. You just need to make sure that you are in sync with his methods.

What are your fees?

The question of cost is obviously essential since the fees vary from one real estate hunter to another, but also according to the type of property targeted (rarity and location). The lowest prices are not necessarily the most profitable: you have to understand what is included in each rate to choose the right quality/price ratio. Among the questions to ask a real estate hunter, be sure to include possible price changes.

How many apartment visits are needed to find the rare pearl?

This point will tell you how demanding the real estate hunter is before presenting a property to a buyer. It will also show you how effective it is to understand your needs quickly. Also ask him about the average number of apartments he will offer you to visit per month. In general, it is quite low because the real estate hunter takes care of the skimming of ads that do not correspond to your specifications. Of course, the type of apartment or house you are looking for will affect the number of visits you will need. Some buyers want to get an idea of the real estate market. If this is your case, talk to your apartment hunter. He will then suggest that you make more visits so that you can have a clearer idea of the types of properties available and their prices.

What is your added value as a real estate hunter?

Finally, give the real estate hunter the opportunity to represent his assets, his dynamism and his motivation to you. Listening and expertise are major criteria for evaluating a good real estate hunter. Make sure they are determined to find you a property!

At Parlemoi de Paris, we are doing everything we can to find you the rare pearl on the Parisian real estate market! Contact us to discuss your project.

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