Falling in love with a flat makes negotiation tricky—you don’t want to lose it, but you also don’t want to overpay blindly.
First, research recent sale prices in the same building or nearby area for similar-size units. This gives you a realistic range. Brokers and online portals can help with ballpark figures.
Understand why the seller is asking their price. Is it genuinely upgraded? Better floor? Better view? Corner unit? Or just wishful thinking? Strong reasons can justify a smaller negotiation margin, weak reasons give you more leverage.
Instead of attacking the price, discuss politely: “I really like the flat, but my budget is around X. Is there any flexibility?” Showing serious interest often gets a better response than lowballing.
Sometimes you can negotiate on terms rather than just price—like including certain furniture, parking, or asking for small repair works to be done before sale.
Stay ready to walk away if numbers don’t feel right. Being emotionally desperate makes negotiation almost impossible.
