Seven reasons to use a property hunter
Time saved, access to exceptional properties sold off-market, expert negotiation, end-to-end support: the seven decisive benefits of using a property hunter for your Paris purchase. Home Select records 96% satisfaction across its 1,200+ buyers, with a 45-day average search (against six months on your own), an average 6% reduction on the asking price and a 2.5% fee paid only on success.
6%
avg. nego.
1 200+
clients
4,8/5
The short answer
Do you need a property hunter to buy in Paris?
For most buyers, yes: a hunter saves both time and money. At Home Select (1,200+ buyers assisted since 2011), a search takes 45 days on average versus 6 months alone, with 3 visits instead of more than 40, an average 6% negotiated off the price and access to off-market listings (around 15% of sales). Fees are 100% success-based.
Considerable time saved
Your property hunter reviews hundreds of listings every week, previews the promising properties and weeds out misleading adverts and flats that fall short of your brief. The result: you only visit the genuine gems. Home Select needs just 3 viewings on average to find its clients the right home. It is a decisive advantage for busy professionals who cannot give up their evenings and weekends to the search.
80%
time saved
Off-market access
Home Select finds 15% of its clients' properties off-market, meaning among apartments that are never published on the mainstream portals. Through a network of more than 15,000 partners (estate agencies, notaires, managing agents, building caretakers), Home Select receives more than 100 off-market properties every day. This exclusive access gives you a head start over other buyers.
15%
off-market properties
Expert negotiation
Home Select knows the Paris market in depth, through more than 1,200 transactions since 2011, and negotiates an average 6% off the seller's asking price. Its hunters master every negotiation argument: comparative market analysis, condition of the property, time on the market, technical weak points. On an €800,000 apartment, that represents a potential saving of €48,000.
6%
average reduction
An objective viewpoint
Unlike the estate agent, who represents the seller, the property hunter works exclusively for the buyer. They have no interest in steering you towards an unsuitable or overpriced property. This independence guarantees an honest opinion on every home visited: quality of the location, true condition of the apartment, potential for appreciation and any points needing caution.
100%
on your side
Technical expertise
Buying an apartment in Paris carries technical risks that only a seasoned professional can identify. Home Select's hunters analyse the diagnostic surveys (energy rating, lead, asbestos, electrics), review the minutes of co-ownership general meetings, estimate the real cost of works and make sure the property hides no latent defects. This expertise protects you from nasty surprises after signing.
0
nasty surprises
End-to-end support
From the first phone call to the handover of the keys at the notaire's office, your property hunter stands beside you at every stage. Drafting the purchase offer, following the preliminary contract, coordinating with the broker on financing, liaising with the notaire, checking the legal documents: you are never left alone to face the complexity of a Paris property transaction.
A to Z
support
Fees paid only on success
With Home Select, you pay only if the firm finds your property. No registration fee, no deposit, no upfront financial commitment. Home Select charges 2.5% of the net purchase price (minimum €10,000 incl. VAT), due only when the final deed is signed. This model aligns the firm's interests perfectly with yours: Home Select is motivated to find the right home, fast.
€0
if no result
What is the difference between buying alone or with a hunter?
Without a hunter
- Hours every week combing through the listing portals
- Disappointing viewings that never match the photos
- No access to the off-market, reserved for professionals
- Negotiating from a weak position against experienced agents
- Risk of nasty technical surprises after signing
- Handling the paperwork alone, with no one to guide you
With Home Select
- Home Select searches and previews, you only approve the best properties
- Only relevant viewings, targeted to your criteria
- Home Select receives 100+ off-market properties every day through its network
- Home Select negotiates 6% off on average, backed by solid arguments
- A secure purchase: surveys, co-ownership and works all checked
- Full support from first contact to the handover of the keys
"Without Home Select, we would never have found our flat. It wasn't listed anywhere online. They took 45,000 euros off the price, and the support from start to finish was outstanding. Thank you."
Marie & Thomas
Buyers in the 11th arrondissement
Who needs a property hunter?
Busy professionals
You have no time to search between meetings, business travel and family life. Your hunter takes care of everything and you only turn out for the most promising viewings.
Expats
You are buying from abroad and need a trusted professional on the ground in Paris. Video viewings, detailed reports, remote signing: everything is organised for you.
First-time buyers
You are discovering the Paris property market and want to avoid the classic first-purchase mistakes. Your hunter guides you on the right price, the right neighbourhood and the pitfalls to avoid.
Long-term buyers
You are looking for a property that holds its value over time, to live in or to pass on. Home Select's hunters assess the potential for appreciation, estimate the works and identify the most promising parts of Paris.
Relocations
You are arriving from another city or another country and do not yet know the subtleties of the Paris market. Your hunter saves you months of searching and points you towards the neighbourhoods that suit your way of life.
Seniors
You want to hand the search over to a trusted professional and be supported calmly, without stress. From selecting the properties through to signing, Home Select takes care of every detail.
Frequently asked questions
Is a property hunter really worth the cost?
I know Paris well, do I really need a hunter?
What happens if the hunter doesn't find anything?
What is the difference between a property hunter and an estate agent?
How long does it take to find an apartment with Home Select?
What are Home Select's property hunter fees?
Your project starts here
A 30-minute conversation about your search. First call free, no commitment. Home Select has 16 property hunters ready to find your home in Paris.
Home Select, property hunter in Paris since 2011.
Who writes this page
Home Select is a property hunting firm founded in 2011 by Jean Mascla. Home Select has 16 hunters covering Paris and the Paris region, working for buyers only. The figures quoted on this page come from the 1,200+ searches Home Select has completed since 2011 and from public French land registry (DVF) data.
Verifiable credentials
- Professional licence CPI 7501 2018 000 028 939 (CCI Paris Île-de-France)
- Company registration SIREN 531223931 (RCS Paris 531 223 931)
- Professional indemnity Suffren Assurances Associés
- Membership Member of the FCI (French federation of property hunters)
- Press coverage 20 Minutes (first in its top 5 Paris apartment hunters), Le Petit Journal, L'Essentiel de l'Éco
Content reviewed by Jean Mascla, Founder of Home Select, property hunter in Paris since 2011, and updated on .
