Why call an apartment hunter?

Looking for an apartment in Paris often becomes an uphill battle.  Reviewing the listings, making calls, doing the follow-up, visiting apartments that often don’t suit – all of this requires an incredible amount of time the ability to respond quickly.  Hiring an apartment hunter (or property hunter) is ideal for anyone who doesn’t have the time – especially not the time to lose – or for those who do not live in the area.

The property hunter does all of the work for you using multiple sources: online listings as well as print ads, real estate agencies, notaries, sellers, etc.  She selects the properties based upon your criteria – precisely defined before the search begins – and visits them for you.  She keeps you informed of the progress of her research and accompanies you all the way to the final purchase signature.

Before the search begins, the property hunter informs you of the characteristics of each neighbourhood in Paris (local commerce, nightlife, schools, and market prices) as well as the type of architecture specific to each neighbourhood.  A typical building in the Marais, for example, is very different from one in the 16th quarter.  She verifies that the qualities of the apartment you are seeking are compatible with the targeted area and, if necessary, helps you define the geographic limits of the search as well as an appropriate budget.

What is the difference between Homelike Home and a classic real estate agency?

A property hunter has no property to sell.  Unlike a real estate agency that represents sellers, she has no stock of apartments to suggest to her clients and thus rests completely neutral in terms of the choice of apartments to visit.  She searches on behalf of a specific buyer, keeping in mind the particular qualities set forth in the specifications sheet.

In its visit reports, Homelike Home highlights up front any defects in an apartment:  a vis-à-vis that is too close, an unwieldy floor plan – whatever it is.  Our role is not to push a property at all costs and have you waste your time visiting an apartment that doesn’t meet your needs.  Our goal is to help you buy a property that truly pleases you based upon its qualities and in spite of any defects.

In order to further underscore this differentiation from real estate agencies, Homelike Home is a member of the National Federation of Apartment Hunters (Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs Immobiliers, www.fnci.fr), and adheres to its code of conduct, which specifies that our firm cannot sell properties so that it may remain completely neutral in searches it undertakes for its clients.

To whom is this service targeted?

Homelike Home is ideal for anyone who doesn’t have the necessary availability to undertake the search themselves, as well as those who do not live in the Parisian region.  We help them avoid repetitive and unnecessary travel.

Is this service only for those who have large budgets?

Not at all!  The most important factor is that the budget be compatible with the property sought.  We will not undertake a search that seems unrealistic.  Homelike Home has searched for properties ranging from €200,000 to several million euros.

Are you legally authorized to act as a property hunter?

In conformity with the Hoguet law that encompasses the activities of all intermediaries in property transactions, Homelike Home has a professional license from the Paris prefecture.

Is the role of Homelike Home limited to apartment searches, or can you help me in finding a loan or in renovating my apartment?

When we visit apartments, our experience allows us to help you envision the possible transformations of the apartment.  Once you have chosen a property, we accompany you all the way to the final signature, putting you in contact with brokers if necessary, and assuring the necessary contacts with the notaries.  After the signature, we can put you in touch with renovation firms, architects, and even follow the progress of the work for you if necessary.

What kind of information is contained in Homelike Home’s visit reports?

Each visit report contains all of the relevant information about the apartment visited and the building it is in:  description, floor plan, necessary renovation work in the apartment and the building, photos, the monthly charges, the real estate tax, etc.  It also includes our analysis – that is, the positive and negative points as they relate to your specification sheet.