How do you negotiate a house price before the compromis?
A solid negotiation rests on facts the seller can check: actual sales in the neighbourhood, the energy rating and the cost of works, the diagnostics, the hazards at the address. Gather them before making a written offer, then protect yourself in the compromis with conditions precedent, especially the loan condition. No argument guarantees a reduction: the seller remains free to refuse.
Start from actual prices
The first argument is the market. Actual sales in the neighbourhood (DVF) give a median per m²; if the asking price departs from it, ask what justifies it. A house on the market for a long time, or whose price has already dropped, often leaves more room.
Prepare a simple comparison: three to five recent sales of nearby houses of similar size, with their date, area and price. Presented calmly, it shows the seller that your offer rests on the market and not on a wish to push the price down. If comparable sales confirm the asking price, that is useful too: it saves you from losing the house over a few thousand euros.
A house price is read together with other figures, such as houses rated F or G and notary fees in 2026. You can work out the purchase costs for free with the free notary fees calculator. You can estimate a house’s property tax with the property tax calculator.
The facts that carry weight
| Item | Where to find it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Energy rating (DPE) | Seller’s diagnostics | Energy bills, future letting, value |
| Energy audit (E, F, G) | Seller’s diagnostics | Costed works in stages |
| Electricity, gas, asbestos, lead | Seller’s diagnostics | Upgrades to plan for |
| Hazards at the address | State-of-risks report, Géorisques | Insurance, works, resale |
| Property tax | Seller’s notice | Annual cost |
For works, a tradesman’s quote is better than a guess. The energy audit, compulsory when selling a house rated E, F or G, already sets out costed works scenarios: a basis for discussion both parties recognise.
Making a written offer
A written purchase offer states the price proposed, how long it is valid and, where relevant, your conditions (loan, amount, timing). Stay factual: present the points that explain your price, without running the house down.
Be careful: an offer accepted by the seller can bind both parties. Before signing anything, ask the notary what the document is worth and what it should contain.
Questions to ask before the compromis
The clauses of the compromis
The compromis de vente (preliminary sale agreement) can contain conditions precedent: if one is not met, the sale falls through with no penalty for the buyer.
- Obtaining the loan: if you borrow, it is provided for by the Consumer Code (art. L313-41), with a period of at least one month.
- No servitude or planning operation that would hinder use of the property, checked by the notary.
- Other conditions agreed between the parties, such as obtaining a permit for a specific project.
After signing, you have a ten-day cooling-off period (art. L271-1 of the Construction and Housing Code). It is not for renegotiating, but for withdrawing at no cost if something new changes your mind.
What not to expect
A negotiation has no guaranteed outcome, and no 'usual' percentage applies to every house. In a tight market a fair price may be accepted as it is; elsewhere the margin depends on the house and the seller. What counts is buying with the defects known, not getting a discount at any cost.
For one address, ScanAdresse brings together some of these facts: nearby sales (DVF), the address’s energy rating (ADEME), the Géorisques hazards, the PLU and the commune’s property tax; the preview is free.
Frequently asked questions
Can you negotiate after the compromis?
The compromis fixes the price. Renegotiation is only possible if both parties agree, for example after something new is discovered; the notary drafts the amendment.
Is the energy rating a good argument?
Yes, if it is recent and valid: it estimates energy costs and, for a house rated E, F or G, the audit costs the works.
Should you go through the estate agent?
If the house is sold through an agency, the offer usually goes through it, and it passes it to the seller. Keep a written record.
Sources
- Service-public.fr: sale agreement or compromis
- Service-public.fr: sale and refused mortgage
- Service-public.fr: energy audit on sale
- Consumer Code, art. L313-41
- Construction and Housing Code, art. L271-1
ScanAdresse is a private service by SRI Group BV (VAT BE1037052239), not connected to any public authority: it brings together public data, with the source and date of every item.
Updated on