- APARTE is specialized in Home Hunting concept, what does it mean and how it functions?
Home Hunting is another term used to define an agent exclusively representing its buyer, known as Buyer's Agent, with the extra services.
In 2007, we have founded the real estate agency ODGAMM Prime Realty in Paris, based in Avenue Marceau, near the Champs Elysées. It is a confidential agency specialized in real estate.
Recently, we have created APARTE real estate, because contrary to North American countries and others where the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) exist, in France few agencies collaborate together since many real estate syndicates exist without coordination between them.
Hiring APARTE real estate as representative agent, the buyer makes sure that all existing or future offers are in his hands because he is the one paying our services fees and the non-cooperative seller's agents won't share their fees anymore.
The other advantage is the long term work of research done by our team; they preselect by visiting the locations that match the specifications of the client. Then the selection happens by sorting the visited locations and during this phase, we present to the client. The team negotiates with the sellers, it accompanies the client during all the phases of buying, registering with the notaries and tax specialists if necessary, and it puts the client in contact with financial organizations... All of these tasks are part of our mission.
As for our experience and presence, they are well known in the market.
- Is it a preferred method in Europe while searching for a property?
This concept is often requested by big international companies that give home hunters their trust in researching and finding locations for relocations in different countries. And this is becoming more recurrent for the individuals as well.
The first time I've discovered this method was when I was commercializing a Private mansion in Auteuil, Paris. An American company of home hunting contacted me and its mission was to find a location in France for the new CEO of a food multinational company. In three visits (the company that preselect, the wife who discovers and the husband who, between 2 planes, visits and approves), the deal was made. This method facilitates the whole process for the client because the selection work is done by the agent.
- Is this concept applied in Lebanon?
It is sometimes done for the embassies and some international companies, and it is more often applied for the rentals. But this concept is not yet developed in Lebanon.
If not, do you think that it would be beneficial for the Lebanese to apply this concept?
In the current market situation, the access to the locations for sale or for rent is public. Therefore, the information is easy to get and can reach everybody.
On the contrary, having an agent acting as Home Hunter doing the preselection work, negotiations and formalities, can save the client a lot of time.
- What can change in the Lebanese real estate scene if the agencies start applying this method?
Giving the research mission for a property to an agent is fore and foremost a question of confidence between two people.
This agent won't only represent the buyer, but he has to know his wishes and desires in order to select the ideal property for him.
And this process doesn't change anything in general but it gives the buyer a clear market vision and less administrative burden.
On another note, this representative has also a legal and financial expertise, totally objective because he is dedicated only to the client.
