Apartment hunter: what are the differences with a real estate agency?
Recognized by the Alur law of 2014, the profession of real estate hunter was integrated into the Hicquet law to extend its field of application to the search for real estate. Working in real estate transactions as a real estate agent, the hunter nevertheless has a client approach and a working method that is all his own. Focus on the differences between the real estate hunter and the real estate agency!

The differences between the real estate hunter and the real estate agency
Les real estate hunters have the mission of prospecting and looking for properties for the benefit of buyers. They must have the real estate agent business card And a CPR insurance, in addition to annual training. Les differences between the real estate hunter and the real estate agency are as follows:
- The real estate hunter works for the buyer : it is the buyer who signs the search mandate, while the real estate agent works for the seller through a sales mandate.
- The real estate hunter is directly contacted by the buyer : the latter contacts him to find his future property via exclusive research mandates. The job of a real estate agency is to prospect to find sales mandates (which are often not exclusive).
- The real estate hunter has nothing to sell : his job consists only in looking for the ideal property on the market (for individuals and professionals), transversely on all supports. The hunter therefore works for few clients at the same time with a “tailor-made” approach to real estate. In contrast, an agent can only offer buyers the goods he owns in an agency.
- The real estate hunter represents only the buyer : he advises and supports his client impartially, from the signing of the search mandate to the signature at the notary. He defends the interests of his client while respecting his specifications and is responsible for negotiating the right price. The real estate agency certainly represents the seller, but it must take care of the interests of both the seller and the buyer.
Do these differences make them competitors?
Les differences between real estate hunter and real estate agency Do they therefore place them in a competitive situation? Not at all! These two jobs are rather Complementary. Indeed, the real estate agent is interested in the offer of properties for sale while the Real estate hunter serves this same demand with the highly qualified searches of buyers. Indeed, a real estate agency has every interest in offering the real estate it owns in wallet To one Off-market real estate hunter (before being broadcast on the main advertising sites). These two players bring supply and demand together quickly, which contributes to their credibility in the eyes of customers. By partnering with a real estate agent, the hunter can get early access to housing, but also take care of search mandates that a real estate agent does not have time to deal with.
Les differences between the real estate hunter and the real estate agency are therefore mostly related to their business approach: the hunter focuses only on finding property for a purchaser. You are looking to Buying a property in Paris ? Tell me about Paris Find for you the rare pearl On the Parisian real estate market ! Contact us to present your project to us.
Learn more:
- Finding the perfect apartment in Paris : our golden rules
- Give theexclusivity to a real estate agency : pros and cons
Olivier was able to help us find the right property for us. He listened to us and was full of suggestions. His advice was invaluable at every stage of our search and right up to the negotiation of the property. A big thank you!
I embarked on the adventure of a first Parisian acquisition following an inheritance and in a context where the market was rather sluggish. I can only thank Olivier Lebé, who guided me for several months to refine my project until the acquisition of a very beautiful apartment in the 19th arrondissement. His ability to listen, his attentive support, his perfect knowledge of the real estate market and the neighborhood allowed me to embark on this first purchase with complete peace of mind. Excellent service is an investment, but peace of mind is well worth the price!
A big thank you to Patrick for his professionalism and efficiency! Thanks to his ability to listen and his perfect knowledge of the market, he was able to find the ideal property. Tailor-made support, sound advice and exemplary responsiveness. I highly recommend his services!