At the outset

Property Finders or Buyers’ Agents first appeared in the United States in the early 1990s. These estate agents work on behalf of buyers to defend their interests during the purchase process. The Property Hunter or Apartment Hunter profession arrived in France a little over 10 years later.

In the early 2000s, Audrey Rays took a critical look at the complexity of the Paris property market and a market in the hands of vendors. She noted the many practical difficulties encountered by buyers: a shortage of properties, huge differences in terms of quality, multiple representatives generally working on behalf of vendors, difficulty in obtaining clear and precise information on properties, need for extreme reactivity for certain apartments, viewings that are often disappointing in relation to the advance property description, hard to understand market prices, misleading advertisements, lack of clarity in discussions on possible negotiation margins, etc.

To reverse the balance of power in favour of buyers, Audrey Rays created one of the first companies 100% dedicated to property hunting in Paris in 2005. She successfully developed this structure for around ten years, until the overly commercial orientation desired by her partners moved too far away from her vision of the profession. She had always wanted to prioritise service quality over the search for a large number of files, and did not identify with an approach she considered "too industrial" for a consulting profession that requires a lot of attention to treat each file as if it were unique.

She then decided to create WEBERE in 2014, a new property hunting company that matched her ideal vision of the profession. WEBERE is the result of more than 20 years of personal and professional experience acquired in the Paris property market, and the development of a systematic search method, largely inspired by Anglo-Saxon countries. It is also the expression of a deep desire to develop a truly bespoke search and support service dedicated to buyers, with a goal of 100% client satisfaction. WEBERE, Your Property Hunter was born.

Artemis, Goddess of Hunting and her Bear

In Greek mythology, Artemis, the Goddess of Hunting, is closely associated with the Bear.

Many Hellenists, who have worked on the etymology of the name Artemis, have established a link between her name and the bear, an animal that plays an important role in their culture.

In Europe, the bear has always been greatly revered as a strong animal, robust yet home-loving.

Bears take their time to carefully choose a den so they can pass the long winter months in comfort.

In the financial world, the bear symbolises a stock market downturn, a period during which property often serves as a safe haven, as a concrete tangible asset, reassuring in the face of the complex structures of an ultra-financialised, virtual world.

That’s why Audrey Rays chose the bear as an emblem to represent WEBERE and her Property Hunting profession.

The WEBERE team

WEBERE, is a team of experienced Property Advisers and Property Hunters, with extensive knowledge of the property market and prices, and a Director, Audrey Rays, who has more than 20 years’ experience as a Property Hunter.

The Adviser / Hunter duo at your service

The WEBERE approach focuses first and foremost on teamwork: the Adviser and Hunter duo. Their skills and roles complement each another perfectly, comprehensively managing your project and completing your purchase with ease.

Director, Audrey Rays, leads the team of Property Advisers and Property Hunters, offering you a customised service that meets your expectations.

Your Adviser is your first point of contact. You meet them in advance. The first meeting on your project and search requirements is with them. You discuss in detail your needs and expectations. Your Adviser assesses the feasibility of your search. They will be with you throughout your project, right through to signing the contract with your solicitor.

The Hunter is the person who manages your search. They are your daily representative. They are on the ground, working for you. They search and select the properties that meet your requirements. They pre-view the relevant properties and send you a detailed viewing report, complete with photos.

The Adviser / Hunter duo is often strategic at the time of negotiating the price of your chosen property.

Our search

We search for the property that matches your purchase project, throughout Paris and part of the 92 (Neuilly-sur-Seine, Boulogne, Levallois Perret): your future main residence, a pied-à-terre, a rental investment property or a professional-use property.

A character apartment or more functional family home, in a commercial district or somewhere more residential, in need of work or not. You determine your search requirements, we help you prioritise them.

Your project is unique to you. Come and discuss it with us.

Types of property

Future main home

From studio to family or reception apartment, town house, loft or exclusive spaces.

Pied-à-terre: for those living elsewhere in France or abroad.

We search the market and target properties based on your project requirements and wishes: type of district, accessibility, type of construction, property style, number of floors, floor area, number of rooms, quiet, bright, views, etc. Are you looking for a traditional property or would you prefer something exclusive? Do you appreciate the charm of yesteryear or would a new build suit you better? Do you dream of renovating an apartment or does building work fill you with fear? Would you prefer a lively district or somewhere more residential?

Rental property: in need of work or not, as a furnished or unfurnished let.

For your investment purchase, we help you define the financial or economic requirements (profitability, rental status, work needed, applicable regulations, etc.).

Business premises tailored to the exercise of a liberal profession (in a residential building that authorises professional activity) or events (exclusive locations).

For your professional activity, our search is undertaken in line with the specifics and constraints of your profession (public reception, authorisation of the co-owners, etc.). We do not search for commercial premises (shops, business assets) or office space in buildings exclusively designed for the service sector.

Our clients

Our Property Hunting service is particularly aimed at people with busy work schedules, inflexible working hours and long working days.

Types of client

Here are a few examples of people at whom our Property Hunting service is particularly aimed:

Working people with busy work schedules, inflexible working hours and long working days

The constraints of your working life make it hard to actively search, never mind attend multiple pointless viewings. Optimal time management is a key incentive and the Adviser-Hunter duo helps you save precious time and manage your priorities.

People who live outside of Paris (elsewhere in France, or abroad)

Searching for a property to buy in Paris, when you don’t already live there or have not lived there for a long time, can put you at a real disadvantage. Extensive knowledge of the local property market is a considerable asset in the successful achievement of your project. Finding the right property is particularly difficult when you need to conduct your search and arrange viewings from a distance, sometimes with time differences and language barriers that make contact even harder. Arranging relevant property viewings, during limited periods of time or at specific times, is a lot easier when your search is conducted by a local professional. They have extensive knowledge of the market and you only have to travel for the relevant properties, which they have selected and pre-viewed for you. They work around your constraints and arrange the viewings for you and can even organise repeat viewings with contractors or architects, if you need to obtain quotations.

People who need support and advice

First-time buyers sometimes feel a bit alone and powerless when dealing with property vendors and professionals. In this instance, the support of a Property Hunter is a precious asset in targeting the interesting properties, making an informed decision and negotiating, without fear of missing out on a good deal, and, more generally, avoiding the pitfalls. Foreign nationals who live outside of Paris, don’t speak French and/or have limited knowledge of the Paris property market, its prices and districts, and the regulations and customs of our country. In advance of your project, then at every stage of the purchase process, the Property Hunter is your special representative, advising you, defending your interests when dealing with vendors and supporting you right through to signing the contract with your solicitor. According to your needs, the Property Hunter can also provide related services (help finding the right financing, works management, design advice, etc.).

Investors, natural persons or legal entities

Investors looking for properties that will generate a good return sometimes need support in assessing the appeal of certain districts over others, and the return on investment offered by the rental market (numerous micro-markets in Paris, strong heterogeneity in some districts), the works and budget needed to bring the property up to standard, but also to identify unnecessary expenses and regulatory incompatibilities. Some investors looking for capital gains will be more interested in ‘up-and-coming’ districts, which are on the rise or should catch up with neighbouring districts in the medium or long term. Those considering a heritage investment, in order to use the property to house their children or grandchildren in the future, will mainly look for districts close to their main residence, certain schools or universities, or finally safe places suitable for student life. The heritage approach then takes precedence over pure profitability. We do not intervene in the search for rental accommodation, unless it is a temporary situation while waiting to implement a property purchase project.

Our commitments

Efficiency and time saving

Daily whole market scan
Rigorous selection to eliminate many irrelevant properties
Initial contact and systematic follow-ups to obtain information and arrange viewings
Reactivity and calendar optimisation when arranging viewings
Deadline management

Procedure and method

Structured process
Proven search approach
Detailed viewing reports and advice
Support in verifying official documents (technical findings, general meeting reports, expense statements, taxes, etc.)
Reading of draft sales agreements and contracts

Customised relationship based on trust

An Adviser who listens to you, from the very outset of your project
A Hunter dedicated to searching for you every day, who sees things from your perspective
Regular contact to refine your requirements and expectations
The advice of two professionals, to help you make the right decision
Negotiation support to help complete your purchase with ease

Advantages that make all the difference

A key service in England and America, which arrived in France several years ago
A service specific to the Paris market, already a proven success (our 14 years’ experience in this profession and our satisfied clients are proof of it)
A network of professional contacts and providers that gives us access to the less visible properties on the market and those about to appear