House hunting

House hunting

English-spoken
Property finding service

Start to finish help with your acquisition in southwest France

Home is not a place... it's a feeling!

You would like to buy a house in the south of France, but you don’t know where to begin, where to look or what to look for? We can do it all for you so you don’t have to worry about contacting agencies in a foreign language, not being available for visits or buying a house with hidden defects!

Our process is simple.

First, we define what you’re looking for. We look at your tastes, your lifestyle, and the things you liked in the past. together we make a list of have and have nots and set a budget for our quest. Then it’s just a matter of patience, we will do all the work from here onwards! We analyse the real estate market on a daily basis and contact private sellers as well as real estate agents when they have a property up for sale that roughly fits the criteria we set beforehand.

Based on the information we get from this first contact we decide to visit the property and we inspect every inch of it. A detailed report will help you decide on whether to make an offer or not. If you decide to press on forward, we will negotiate the price for you and help you get through all the paperwork. We will be by your side when you sign the bill of sale at the notary’s office.

Afterwards we help you to set up the utility contracts and even to furnish your newly bought home because that’s our goal:

  To make you feel at home… abroad!

 

 

Make sure to check out the website of the  French House Hunters Association for more information! 

You would like to buy a house in the south of France, but you don’t know where to begin? We can do it all for you!

Our process is simple.

First, we define what you’re looking for. Then it’s just a matter of patience, we will do all the work from here onwards! We analyse the real estate market on a daily basis and contact private sellers as well as real estate agents.

We visit properties that fit the bill and we inspect every inch of it. A detailed report will help you decide on whether to make an offer or not. If you decide to press on forward, we will negotiate the price and help you get through the paperwork. We will be by your side when you sign the bill of sale at the notary’s office.

Afterwards we help you to set up the utility contracts and even to furnish your newly bought home because that’s our goal:

  To make you feel at home… abroad!

 

 

 

Is a house hunter an ordinary real estate agent?

No!  Real estate agents exist since the dawn of settled man, house hunters on the contrary have been a more recent development due to the modern day needs of a society where time is of the essence and information is key. Since the year 2000 the house hunter meets the needs of the 21st century’s society: more mobile, more dynamism and more choice. 

Rather than being on the seller’s side and muster à portfolio filled with properties, the house hunter or property finder joins the buyer in its search for the perfect home. He takes the time to listen to his customer’s needs, to advise him on important decisions and to guide him through the acquisition of the perfect home. 

What does a real estate agent do exactly?

For sale sign immo
  • Listen and back up: Contracted by the buyer, he listens to his client’s needs to create a detailed mission statement. He warns the client about the impact of certain decisions and addresses things that might have missed in the reflection process.
  • Advice: Contracted by the buyer, the house hunter is not biased by the goods he visits and proposes to his clients. He has a neutral assessment and an objective vision of the different properties. This way, the buyer can be reassured that his interests are well protected when buying a property. Furthermore, the house hunter’s expertise ensures a fair estimation of the listing, and the renovation works that might be needed to complete the project.
  • Search: As he’s substituting the buyer, the house hunter contacts private sellers or real estate agents and handles the first visits of the property. This way the buyer is not flooded with information, phone calls and/or E-mails and can be sure that the estates which are finally presented fit most of his criteria.

When to contact a house hunter?

It might always be interesting to enlist a house hunter in your quest for the ideal home. He will most certainly account for important time savings and as he knows the area, the market and can easily estimate future costs he might even be able to negotiate a better deal than his client would be able to.

Furthermore, if you’re trying to acquire some property far from your current residence (work transfer, vacation home,…) it might be nearly impossible to do so without the help of somebody local. Not only will he be more flexible for house visits, but his knowledge of the area might be crucial in determining what neighbourhood you would be looking for, and his knowledge of local legislation might help you avoid costly mistakes.

Lack of time

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Foreign language

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Area knowledge

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Are house hunting services expensive?

Not necessarily! While the services are an additional cost for your purchase, they might earn more than their cost. First of all, time is money, and you will save a lot of it if it’s not you browsing, analysing, visiting, calculating, … Next, there will be less bad surprises after you sign the bill of sale. The house hunter is a professional, knows where to look and can foresee future repairs. Third, as he’s experienced in house négociations and knows what comparable houses went for he will be more likely to negociate a considerable price reduction.

Last, the house hunters will look for houses in places you don’t even know about and might find houses you would never have found, maybe even the house of your dreams. This is priceless!

Still not convinced? In general, seller agents will pay part of our fee. This way you get an exclusive service withouth the exclusive price-tag! 

House hunters only help you buy a property?

No! You already live in France but you found a new job in another area? Your boss transfers you to the other side of the country? Your transfer approaches but you still haven’t found a new home? You already have an apartment; you would like to move but haven’t got the time to look for something else or you didn’t find something to your likings? 

No problem, we can find you a house or apartment to rent that will suit you perfectly!

How does a house hunting mission go exactly?

Finding your dream home might be less evident as it sounds, most certainly if you’re looking to acquire a piece of paradise abroad. You’re not the only one who prefers to outsource the search of an ideal home and there is a lot of evident reasons to do so that we explain here.

Everything starts by listing the things you would and would not like your new home to be, criteria that are absolutely necessary and things that would be a plus… but this is just the beginning. As soon as we have a clear view of what you are looking for, we take over and find your ideal home!

Our full process is explained below

1. Intake-meeting

1. Intake-meeting

This first encounter enables us to get to know each other. It's important you trust us to find your home, and for us to really get to know you. We listen to your life-story, the things you like and those you don't... all information adds a piece to the puzzle and sheds a light on what might be the ideal home for you. We don't have a catalogue to choose from, we find a house that really fits you!

2. Contract

2. Contract

For us to fully commit to finding your dream home we need to have a clear contract, stating what we can and cannot do, listing the criteria above and setting a timeframe for our search. It's also a pledge of trust on your behalf to only work with us during this period. Once this document is signed, a 14-day-period of cancellation rights start to count after which we can begin to look for the house of your dreams! During this time we validate your financing plans to make sure we have a file that's ready-to-go if we find something you like!

3. Quest

3. Quest

Every day, we analyse the private and professional real estate market in search of properties that fit your criteria. We contact sellers and discuss the specifics of interesting listings. We set up meetings for houses that correspond to at least 80% of what you're looking for!

4. Primary visits

4. Primary visits

The first time we visit a property is to get a better feeling of what the listing is about. We listen to the seller and read between the lines of what het is saying. We take the time to properly analyse the benefits and negative points of the listing and estimate the property as well as the work needed to get it modernised. This all goes in a detailed text-photo-and-video-report that enables you to make a buy-decision.

5. Feedback moments

5. Feedback moments

We regularly take the time to debrief our findings with you. That way you know how the market is behaving, what we are doing, and we can adjust our methods or your criteria if needed. It's not rare to change opinions when you saw some properties you might want to add or remove criteria to the list, we set up beforehand If you're interested in a listing, we discuss the next steps, check all the paperwork is in order and start negotiating on your behalf.

6. Second visit

6. Second visit

The real estate market doesn't sleep and good deals expire rapidly. Some flexibility is needed if you want to make a listing is yours. If you're not convinced by our report and would like to visit in order to make a decision, we will arrange a nice trip for you to come and see the property for yourself, visiting the area on the downtime.

7. Compromis de vente

7. Compromis de vente

We stand by our customers during price negotiations. Our knowledge of the area as well as previous listings enable us to get you a better deal you might get on your own. Once the verbal agreement is done, we make sure all the paperwork is done right and are right by your side at the notary's. With the right proxy we can even sign for you!

8. Settle-in

8. Settle-in

If you wish, we can even help you set up your utility contracts: water, electricity, fuel, tv, internet,... We can even arrange for your house to be furnished by the time you arrive! All you have to do is pack your bags, get over here and put your toes in the water of your new pool!

FAQ

No!  Real estate agents exist since the dawn of settled man, house hunters on the contrary have been a more recent development due to the modern day needs of a society where time is of the essence and information is key. Since the year 2000 the house hunter meets the needs of the 21st century’s society: more mobile, more dynamism and more choice. 

Rather than being on the seller’s side and muster à portfolio filled with properties, the house hunter or property finder joins the buyer in its search for the perfect home. He takes the time to listen to his customer’s needs, to advise him on important decisions and to guide him through the acquisition of the perfect home. 

  • Listen and back up: Contracted by the buyer, he listens to his client’s needs to create a detailed mission statement. He warns the client about the impact of certain decisions and addresses things that might have missed in the reflection process.
  • Advice: Contracted by the buyer, the house hunter is not biased by the goods he visits and proposes to his clients. He has a neutral assessment and an objective vision of the different properties. This way, the buyer can be reassured that his interests are well protected when buying a property. Furthermore, the house hunter’s expertise ensures a fair estimation of the listing, and the renovation works that might be needed to complete the project.
  • Search: As he’s substituting the buyer, the house hunter contacts private sellers or real estate agents and handles the first visits of the property. This way the buyer is not flooded with information, phone calls and/or E-mails and can be sure that the estates which are finally presented fit most of his criteria.

More info about what we do here!

It might always be interesting to enlist a house hunter in your quest for the ideal home. He will most certainly account for important time savings and as he knows the area, the market and can easily estimate future costs he might even be able to negotiate a better deal than his client would be able to.

Furthermore, if you’re trying to acquire some property far from your current residence (work transfer, vacation home,…) it might be nearly impossible to do so without the help of somebody local. Not only will he be more flexible for house visits, but his knowledge of the area might be crucial in determining what neighbourhood you would be looking for, and his knowledge of local legislation might help you avoid costly mistakes.

Not necessarily! While the services are an additional cost for your purchase, they might earn more than their cost. First of all, time is money, and you will save a lot of it if it’s not you browsing, analysing, visiting, calculating, … Next, there will be less bad surprises after you sign the bill of sale. The house hunter is a professional, knows where to look and can foresee future repairs. Third, as he’s experienced in house négociations and knows what comparable houses went for he will be more likely to negociate a considerable price reduction.

Last, the house hunters will look for houses in places you don’t even know about and might find houses you would never have found, maybe even the house of your dreams. This is priceless!

No! You already live in France but you found a new job in another area? Your boss transfers you to the other side of the country? Your transfer approaches but you still haven’t found a new home? You already have an apartment; you would like to move but haven’t got the time to look for something else or you didn’t find something to your likings? 

No problem, we can find you a house or apartment to rent that will suit you perfectly!

Make sure to check out the of the 

 French House Hunters Association

 for more information! 

We are active in the whole south western area of France. From the Atlantic to the Mediterrenean and up untill the Pyrenees! Though we have a personal preference for the Gers, Tarn, Tarn & Garonne, Lot, Lot & Garonne. We will advice you on what we think is the best fit for you.

You already know in what area you’d like to settle, even better!

Or headquarters are centrally located  next to Toulouse. This way we can easily reach the neighbouring departments. 

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