Emilie, a thirty-something who owned a studio in the 20th, bought a two-room flat with rooftop views of Paris in the 15th arrondissement for 300,000 euros, after negotiating 40,000 euros off the asking price. The property, found in under a month by her Home Select property hunter, required complete renovation: a decisive negotiation lever.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: 15th, 16th, 17th arrondissements, Boulogne-Billancourt, Levallois
- Property type: two-room flat, 1900s building, open rooftop views
- Budget: 400,000 euros (purchase + renovation)
- Negotiated price: 300,000 euros (-40,000 euros against the 340,000 euro asking price)
- Renovation budget: 30,000 to 40,000 euros
- Search duration: Under one month
- Buyer profile: Thirty-something, studio owner, sale in progress
The project
Emilie works in the Opéra quarter and owns the studio near Nation where she lives. The wish for more space, a more central location and greater comfort had grown pressing. With her family behind her, she set her sights on a two-room flat of at least 35 m², bright, with a maximum budget of 400,000 euros including any renovation. The Home Select property hunter took an exclusive one-month mandate.
The search strategy
The property hunter quickly saw that the budget, comfortable on paper, was stretched by Emilie’s standards. This client knew what she wanted and would not buy by default.
The first viewings in the 17th showed a sector too expensive on the good streets. Boulogne-Billancourt did not appeal. The hunter narrowed gradually towards the 15th, around La Motte-Picquet: a direct metro to Opéra, shops, a lively neighbourhood. Alongside this, his exchanges with Emilie sharpened the portrait of the ideal buyer: she wanted a coup de cœur, a striking view, excellent natural light.
The property found
While browsing an agency website, the property hunter spotted an unusual listing. He pre-viewed it and sent Emilie the videos at once. The two-room flat sits in a very Parisian 1900s building, a little worn but with the charm of a period co-ownership. The living room opens onto rooftop views of Paris: the coup de cœur Emilie had been waiting for.
The property was listed at 340,000 euros and required a complete renovation: bathroom to redo, kitchen to reposition, general refreshing. With a renovation budget of 30,000 to 40,000 euros, the total stayed within limits.
The negotiation
Emilie left the first viewing enthusiastic and offered 320,000 euros, 20,000 below the asking price. At the second viewing, with two contractors on hand to quote the works, she took the full measure of the renovation needed. A third viewing with her father, who confirmed the property’s appeal, led her to lower her offer to 300,000 euros.
The property hunter backed this bold move. On a property needing major works, mainstream buyers hold back: viewings are fewer, competition lighter. The owners accepted the 300,000 euro offer, a negotiation of nearly 12% off the asking price.
Three contractors were put in competition for the works. The main challenge was to reposition the bathroom and kitchen while making the most of the space in a small flat. With 30,000 to 40,000 euros, Emilie could press ahead confidently towards the result she wanted.
What this mission illustrates
Renovation as a negotiation lever. Properties requiring full renovation put off the majority of buyers. For those who can see the potential, or who have a property hunter able to cost the works upfront, it is a competitive advantage. Emilie obtained 40,000 euros off because competition was low on this kind of property. We detail these strategies in our article on how to negotiate the price of a flat in Paris.
The iterative narrowing of the search area. A good property hunter does not start from an address, they start from a broad perimeter that they refine viewing by viewing. The 17th was too expensive, Boulogne did not match the desired atmosphere, the 15th around La Motte-Picquet offered the perfect compromise. This calibration work, invisible to the client, is at the heart of the Home Select method described in our search process guide.
The value of the client’s ability to imagine. Not all buyers can see a renovated flat behind faded walls and a poorly laid-out kitchen. Emilie could. That quality, with her responsiveness and determination, turned a property the market had shunned into a fine acquisition. It is a reminder that viewing a flat is also an exercise in imagination, guided by the property hunter.
Looking for a property with renovation potential in Paris? Contact us: our property hunters identify the opportunities that the market overlooks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you negotiate 40,000 euros off a flat in Paris?
Yes, when the property requires substantial works and potential buyers are put off by the scale of renovation needed. Emilie obtained a 40,000 euro reduction (from 340,000 to 300,000 euros) on a two-room flat in the 15th, justifying the discount with the necessary works: complete overhaul of the bathroom, kitchen and layout. Properties with major works attract less competition, which provides significant negotiation leverage.
How does a property hunter narrow down the search area during viewings?
The hunter starts from a broad area and progressively tightens it based on the client's reactions. For Emilie, the first viewings in the 17th revealed prices too high on the best streets, those in Boulogne did not resonate, and it was around La Motte-Picquet in the 15th that the value-for-money and atmosphere matched best. This iterative narrowing is the standard method at Home Select.
Is buying a flat needing major works in Paris a good strategy on a tight budget?
Yes, provided you accurately estimate the works before making the offer and can envision the end result. Properties requiring major renovation are less sought-after by mainstream buyers, which reduces competition and opens up negotiation margin. Emilie bought for 300,000 euros a property that, once renovated with 30,000 to 40,000 euros of works, offers rooftop views of Paris in a 1900s building: a value far exceeding the total cost.
How long does a property hunter take to find a two-room flat in the 15th?
The timeline depends on market pressure and the precision of the brief. On this mission, the Home Select property hunter found the property in under a month, below the 45-day average Home Select has recorded across its missions since 2011. The two-room flat with rooftop views, in a 1900s building around La Motte-Picquet, was bought for 300,000 euros after a 40,000 euro negotiation (around 12%) off the 340,000 euro asking price. The hunter's responsiveness and the buyer's ability to envision a fixer-upper enabled this rapid acquisition.
