Call on an apartment hunter in Paris to find a property

The flat hunting profession and the Paris property market

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Introduction to the flat hunting profession in Paris

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Before going into the details of how a flat hunter works, I'd like to give you a quick overview of the Paris property market so that you can understand how the service offered by flat hunters can make sense for certain buyers. Let's see and understand which ones.

Background to the Paris flat market

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The Paris property market is characterised by high prices and strong competition between buyers, particularly for charming, well-located flats. The central arrondissements, such as the 6th and 7th, have some of the highest prices, reflecting their popularity and proximity to historic, tourist and cultural areas. Finding a flat that combines aesthetics with an advantageous location can be a challenge in all 20 of Paris's arrondissements, where demand for beautiful flats far exceeds supply.

As you move away from the centre, prices become more accessible, but the search remains complex. Boroughs such as the 16th and 17th offer more affordable prices, but demand for bright, quiet, well-located flats remains strong.

In the suburbs, towns such as Neuilly-sur-Seine, Levallois-Perret and Boulogne-Billancourt to the west, Vincennes and Montreuil to the east, Suresnes and Courbevoie to the north and Montrouge and Issy-les-Moulineaux to the south, are renowned for their quality of life. They also attract people looking for a compromise between proximity to Paris and a more spacious living environment. However, even in these areas, which offer more affordable prices than most of the Paris flat market, the supply of quality flats remains low and demand high.

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The birth of the flat hunter profession in Paris

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It was against this backdrop that the profession of flat hunter was invented in Paris in 2000, in response to the lack of a dedicated service for buyers. In fact, in the 2000s, the price of flats in Paris exploded. There has been an increase of more than 275% in 20 years. This meteoric rise in prices greatly increased the pressure on flat buyers. They had to make lightning-fast decisions to avoid missing out on the property they had worked so hard to find. Estate agents focused their attention on sellers, who were being courted from all sides by the competition. Demand on the buyer's side was high and supply was not keeping pace. Finding a good flat became a real headache.

It was at this point that a group of Parisian property professionals came up with the idea of offering a service to help and guide people in their search for a flat. The profession of flat hunter was born in Paris.

Two categories of buyer were particularly interested in the services of Parisian flat hunters: buyers who were short of time and those who were not present.

It is mainly these two types of buyer who still use the services of flat hunters.

Some buyers who feel they need support and advice to optimise their purchases also call on the services of flat hunters.

The advantages of using a Paris flat hunter

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There are many advantages to using an apartment hunter in Paris: time savings, the possibility of finding a flat that precisely matches the buyer's requirements, improved negotiation, legal advice at every stage of the purchase process, making the apartment-hunting process easy and enjoyable, the presence of a dedicated property professional, and the fact that flat hunters are always available for each of their clients.

Save time with a Parisian flat hunter

The time saved is mainly at three levels: preparing the search, the search itself and after the flat has been found.

How does a flat hunter save you time before the search?

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Good preparation of the flat search can save you a considerable amount of time.

1) Financing

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It's vital to check with your banker or broker before you start looking. This is the only way to know exactly how much you can afford to spend on your future flat. All too often we see buyers launching their search without having taken the time to find out exactly how much they can afford and how their financial package will be structured. This can lead to months of useless research, but it could also mean that you miss out on a flat: a major waste of time, too.

2) specifications

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This is the first stage of the search with your Paris flat hunter. Before embarking on the search for the perfect flat, drawing up a set of specifications will help you avoid unnecessary visits and ensure that your budget is consistent with the buyer's requirements.

Here again, we regularly receive buyers who have exhausted themselves looking for a flat for months without success. Most of the time, if they had gone through the process of drawing up a specification, they would have been able to analyse why the search was unsuccessful. The time saved would have been considerable.

Drawing up a set of specifications also enables you to take stock of the criteria that are essential and those that are optional. At the start of the search, many buyers visit flats that do not meet the essential criteria. Having a flat hunter on hand will help you avoid wasting unnecessary time.

Saving time with a Paris flat hunter during the search process

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3) During the flat search in Paris

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The Paris flat hunter takes charge of the search on all the websites. The buyer no longer has to deal with this chore. Here too, the time saved is significant.

Few buyers who start their search unaccompanied are able to understand, by consulting the property advertisements, which flats to avoid and which to visit without delay. You need to have seen thousands of ads to have a "good eye". This will enable you to analyse and correctly interpret the internet presentations of Paris flats to avoid unnecessary visits.

When a flat is spotted, it's important to ask the estate agent about it. Asking the right questions is not easy, especially at the start of the search. The flat hunter takes charge of the relationship with the agent and obtains confirmation that the non-negotiable criteria in the specifications will be met.

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Optimising your time after finding a flat with a Paris flat hunter

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4) During the Paris flat negotiation phase

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Make sure you don't miss out on a flat, and put all the chances on the buyer's side during the property negotiation. Here too, the time saved can be considerable. Missing out on a flat because you took too long to negotiate or make an offer, or because you were too greedy during the negotiation, forces the buyer to start the search all over again. This can be particularly frustrating. The Paris flat hunter's knowledge of the property market and the practices of estate agents and sellers will greatly reduce the risk of poor negotiation. Once again, this can save a considerable amount of time.

5) After the negotiation and until you move in

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After the flat negotiation phase, the Paris flat hunter continues to save the buyer precious time by efficiently managing all post-negotiation aspects until the transaction is finalised. This includes coordinating with notaries to ensure that all necessary legal documents are properly prepared and sent in a timely manner. The flat hunter will also check property diagnoses, AGM minutes and co-ownership charges to ensure that the co-ownership is functioning properly and that the flat is in good condition.

In addition, they can organise and accompany final inspection visits to the flat to ensure that all the conditions agreed at the time of sale are met. This includes checking that the flat is in good condition, that all the equipment listed in the promise to sell is present and that all the fixtures and fittings are working properly. By taking care of these details, the flat hunter allows the buyer to concentrate on other aspects of their move or personal affairs, without being overwhelmed by the administrative and logistical complexities that can take up a lot of time.

Another time-saving factor is the work involved. The flat hunter can put the buyer in touch with architects or contractors whose reliability and professionalism he or she knows. This means that decisions can be made quickly, and that the work does not have to be delivered late.

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Access to a network of exclusive flat offers in Paris

One of the main advantages of using a flat hunter in Paris is access to an extensive network of property professionals and to off-market offers that are difficult for the general public to access. Flat hunters cultivate long-standing relationships with estate agencies, developers, notaries and even private owners. This enables them to obtain insider information on properties that have not yet been put on the market. This inside knowledge can be crucial in a city like Paris, or in towns in the 1st and 2nd suburbs such as Neuilly-sur-Seine, Boulogne-Billancourt, Suresnes, Montreuil, Vincennes and Levallois, where demand for quality flats outstrips supply.

Thanks to these connections, flat hunters can offer their clients previews of properties. This gives them a head start in the search and purchase process. These exclusive offers sometimes include flats in highly sought-after locations, prestige properties or investment opportunities that are not presented on traditional property sales platforms.

Access to the network of property professionals has other virtues. It allows you to obtain more and better information about the flats for sale. This is a highly effective way of negotiating the best possible terms and conditions.

Expertise and personalised advice throughout the buying process

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Did you know that 50% of the work done by a flat hunter for a buyer takes place outside the flat search? What's more, this part of the process is the most technical and, in some respects, the most delicate. We're going to turn the spotlight on this lesser-known but equally important aspect of the service offered by Paris flat hunters.

The role of property law in buying a flat

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Legal knowledge of property law is an indispensable asset for flat hunters, significantly enhancing the quality and security of transactions for their clients. This expertise enables the flat hunter to navigate with confidence through the legal and regulatory complexities that govern the purchase and sale of flats in Paris. A solid understanding of property law helps the hunter to identify any anomalies or irregularities that could affect the transaction.

Armed with this knowledge, the flat hunter is able to advise buyers effectively on the legal aspects of transactions, such as the tax implications of buying a property, environmental and town-planning standards, and co-ownership rules that could influence their decision. This proactive legal advice is essential to prevent future complications, enabling buyers to make informed and secure decisions.

The flat hunter's expertise in real estate law is not only a competitive advantage; it is crucial to ensuring that the buyer's rights are fully protected throughout the purchase process and that every stage of the transaction complies with the legal standards in force.

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Parisian property hunters: experienced negotiators

Good negotiation starts with good information. The key elements you need to know in order to carry out a detailed analysis of the price of the flat you want are as follows:

- Analysis of the property market at the time of negotiation
- Market price in the flat's location
- History of marketing the flat
- Direct sale or via an agency: understanding expectations and positions on the sales side
- Analysis of co-ownership
- Analysis of property surveys
- The flat's strengths and weaknesses

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The information available to individuals is patchy and often difficult to analyse. Market prices provided by internet sites are delivered in raw form. Most of the time, transaction values do not provide enough detail to be usable. Analyses of co-ownership documents and diagnostics are indigestible. The information provided by estate agents on the marketing history of flats is often imprecise. The elements that could give an idea of the fair value of a flat on the French property market are unclear.

This is where the flat hunter's expertise comes into play. They are able to give buyers precise answers on all the key points. It gives them the ability to know the right transaction value. It enables them to position themselves in relation to that value. Chance does not come into play. It is important to remember that the fair value of a property at a given moment can be gauged. This may sometimes be equal to the sale price, but this is far from always being the case. The flat hunter guides the buyer to this fair value and explains how it was arrived at.

This is another essential quality of a flat hunter: sharing information, but also explaining in detail the origin and analysis that lead to the result. This notion of the fair value of a property can be complex to understand for a buyer who is not used to property market practices. Thanks to the flat hunter, they will be able to understand and make an informed decision when they come to negotiate.

Equally important is the property hunter's ability to establish a relationship of trust with sellers and their agents. This relationship facilitates more open and honest exchanges, which is crucial to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. The property hunter uses his expertise to ensure that every aspect of the negotiation is aligned with the buyer's interests, while maintaining an atmosphere of respect and professionalism during the talks.

Finding a pied-à-terre with a Paris flat hunter

A pied-à-terre is a flat that is lived in occasionally by foreign owners or owners who do not live in Paris. As these buyers are not present in Paris, or are present only intermittently, it is particularly difficult to find a Parisian flat that will serve as their pied-à-terre.

The service offered by flat hunters is particularly well suited to this type of buyer.

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Financial advice from a Paris flat hunter for a foreign buyer

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When a foreign buyer is considering buying a pied-à-terre in Paris, advice on financing is crucial. Depending on the nationality of the buyer, there are different ways of obtaining a mortgage. The Paris flat hunter will guide the buyer through the financing options available and tailored to their particular situation. He or she will help establish contacts with banks and credit brokers who have experience of working with international clients, thus facilitating access to property loans suitable for non-residents.

In short, by providing dedicated guidance on financing, the Paris flat hunter ensures that the foreign buyer can navigate the complex financial landscape of buying property in Paris effectively, maximising their chances of success in acquiring their pied-à-terre.

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Searching with a buyer who is not present

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When a buyer is not physically present in Paris, the Paris flat hunter can represent him or her for all the steps required to buy a pied-à-terre.

The hunter uses the latest technology to facilitate the process.

Visits can be made without the buyer being present. The property hunter will send plans, photos and the exact address in advance to validate his client's interest. During the visit, the hunter will make a high-quality video to give a realistic view of the flat. If the buyer is interested, the flat hunter will negotiate and draw up the offer while waiting for the client to come and confirm his or her interest in the flat.

Remuneration and contract for flat hunters in Paris

Fees for flat hunters in Paris

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Flat hunters are only paid on the basis of success. Fees are only payable if the search is completed. Fees are paid through the notary's accounts when the deed of sale is signed.

Fees are generally between 2% and 3% (including tax) of the purchase price of the flat.

Paris flat hunters' search contract

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Flat hunters sign exclusive search contracts with their buyers. This enables them to provide a high-quality service and constant availability to their buyers.

In return, many Parisian flat hunters offer exclusive search mandates with no fixed term. The buyer can terminate the property search mandate at any time.

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Testimonials from satisfied customers

Here are a few testimonials from clients who have used Parlez-moi de Paris to illustrate the advantages offered by flat hunters in Paris:

First google review by Nicolas M. :

‍"Excellent service: thoroughness, efficiency, real sense of service. The expertise provided enables a successful transaction at the right price. Well done and thank you."

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Background to the search: our client wanted to buy a family flat in the Muette, Passy areas of the 16th arrondissement. He had clearly expressed a desire to make an acquisition that would be a good financial investment. We therefore sought to

- find a flat that matched his specifications perfectly,
- to guide him towards flats that met the criteria needed to maintain their value over time (high floor, lift, bright, quiet, flawless floor plan, spacious, well-maintained co-ownership, sought-after area),
- to acquire the property at a price that is not over-valued.

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After a dozen or so visits, we found the flat that met all these criteria and that she really liked. It was presented at a price in the upper range of its valuation. We therefore conducted tough negotiations with our buyer, while respecting everyone's interests. The result was an acquisition at a fair and equitable market price for both parties.

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Second google review filed by Daren S. :

‍"We were incredibly lucky to have Susan Lu as our agent. She has an incredible sensitivity for selecting only the type of properties that she felt were really worth looking at and that she felt we would be interested in. When we found our dream home, it went on the market that morning and we had an accepted offer in by lunchtime. This early access gave us the opportunity to get in quickly as other offers were made. We were guided through the often arduous buying process in Paris with ease and confidence. Susan even helped us to obtain finance in France! Susan's knowledge of the property market and the buying process is invaluable, and her advice and support is second to none."

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Typical example of a purchase for overseas buyers that we accompanied from A to Z.

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Latest google review filed by Geoffroy:

‍"Simplicity, sympathy, efficiency, a genuine understanding of the need (finally!) and unfailing availability. Thank you to Patrick and Parlez moi de Paris for making a reality of my professional real estate project that had been dragging on for months (or even years)."

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Geoffroy had been looking for premises to set up his workshop for years. But his professional activities left him little time for his search. Like many people, he was looking after it from time to time. Unfortunately for him, the type of property he was looking for was in high demand and supply was low. As a result, he had very little chance of succeeding. One of his friends advised him to contact us. The mission was purely focused on this search: to find the nugget within a reasonable timeframe. This is where the availability of flat hunters makes all the difference. The property was found in three months.

How do you choose the right flat hunter in Paris?

Choosing the right flat hunter in Paris requires a considered and informed approach to ensure that the professional you select is not only competent, but also in tune with your values and needs. It is essential to check the flat hunter's references and experience. Customer reviews can attest to their integrity, efficiency and ability to offer a personalised service. A good flat hunter must be transparent in his working methods, including his fees, contractual commitments and the services included in his services.

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It's also a good idea to meet the hunter in person or by video to assess their knowledge of the local market and their ability to understand and prioritise your search criteria. This meeting can also help you determine whether their communication and working style match your expectations. Finally, make sure that the hunter you select shows a real commitment to your interests rather than their own, seeking to find you the best possible flat rather than simply closing a sale. A good flat hunter should act as a trusted advisor, guiding clients through the buying process with honesty and expertise.

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