Just be straight with the agent, tell him/her you are serious (they should already know that anyway) and that this is what you are prepared to pay, they may ask why in which case you can explain. There's no problem in simply offering what you think it's worth - it's on the market to be sold and you want to buy, it just remains to fix the price - that's a very vague process in France, we're not talking about an exact science. In short a house is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. That can be a lot in a good market and not much in a bad one. It's a simple supply and demand situation, sometimes complicated by other factors I admit but just have a go and see. Most people have an idea of what they will or won't take anyway so the approach may not change anything! Bonne chance !

Sorry, I have no experience with buing and selling property.

As others have said, don't knock the property, it'll just annoy people. More a case of "all things considered, the market, the work that needs doing etc... I'm prepared to pay/I'm offering X€. at the end of the day it'll very much depend on the seller - if they're hard headed they won't budge what ever you say, if they are ready to negotiate they will, get the agent on your side - you'll be paying his fees after all so make him/her work for you ;-)

Bonjour Sten,

The bank should be able to give you all the relevant info on the financial side of buying - they take a lot of convincing to lend at the moment so good luck. as for signing the compromis de vente - you have 7 days after signing to change your mind but that's not to be used lightly, you should be sure before you sign. Basically sure about the house, its structure and that it's where you want to live, seeing it in winter is a very good idea as things are often so different from summer. As for what you can offer - that very much depends on the situation but there's no harm in trying a low, if not very low offer. Everything is negotiable, if it isn't then people will soon say so. I'd recommend you see several houses too, to get a feel for the market and prices rather than just seeing just one. Will they be willing to take a very low price - offer and see and don't be fobbed off by the agent, have a go ;-)

Bonne chance !

Hi Sten, are you talking about the godawful rusty pieces of metal framing the glorious statue of King Louis at the main entrance?  Damn!  There was a neighborhood association agitating to get them removed and I had high hopes they would be successful.  I guess not.  :-(

Good luck on that ...and hope you enjoy living in France - unlike me! ;)

Thank you for the add, Sten :)  Looking forward to our new friendship!  Have a fab weekend.  Where are you at? I am in Castres, in the SOUTH.  I  just see the sun peeking thru my window ...dunno yet if it's a warm one or a deceiving bright light and just playing hide and seek with the cloud :)

Hiya Sten. Unfortunately I'm still waiting for the sale of my apartment to complete. There has been much screaming and yelling, believe me - it's gone into 5 months now, but I think the end may be drawing near. Of course many of the decent houses I'd seen previously have now been sold so I'm going to do a ridiculously short shortlist crammed into 3 days but still have faith I will find the perfect little cottage with humungous garden for Shaun and the other animals.  When do you think you'll be going over?

Hi Sten,

I live on the opposite side of France, in southern Burgundy and we are very much rural. we bought our house in 2005 and retired here in summer of 2009.

We have been busy having huge alterations done to our house and the buildings and Jim, my husband, has to instal a kitchen in our "little" house and finish laying a vast quantity of parquet.

We love France and have been to lunch today with near neighboutrs and another English lady, who loves not far from here, but whom we have not met before. I was in the doctor's yeaterday for my flu jab and I was asked if I knew her. I have been told that the French call that "vingt-quatre heures".