need advice on putting an offer on a house

[lucykate]

we've sold ours and have found \link{http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-5185622.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy\this one}. we've watched the market since sept and viewed 6 on saturday and this nearly ticks all the boxes. but, its tatty, needs quite alot of work. they've recently reduced the price to £244,950, from £249,950, but the house next door sold 2 weeks ago for £235,000 its extended and in much better condition.

so, what would be your first offer on it?, i was thinking at starting at £228,000 or is that being silly?

Have a look on \link{http://www.nethouseprices.com\nethouseprices} to see what others in the same road have gone for recently and pitch it according to state of house.

I would offer £230 if not £225. and p;ay a waiting game.

£225

and don't be to keen.

on thehouse we are moving to today, we bought it for £70 under the asking price by being patient

The house we offered on last time (when our sale fell through), we got for £50k less than asking price because the seller was in dire financial straits and the house had been stuck on the market.

When you say it needs work from the photos it look purely cosmetic. Personally if they have just reduced it then suspect they are hoping ot get nearer their asking price than that. Did you view the one next door and are you certain it went for 235k ? Were there any other mitigating circumstances which may have made it sell so much cheaper and have you checked others in the area. I'd probably go slightly above 230 to begin with (psychological thing of being nearer the asking price than an offer in the 220's). If you perceive it to be less value than the one which sold at 235k then that should be your ceiling.

good luck

70 whole english pounds Beetroot

seriously, 70K extremely good. Start at £225K LucyKAte - it can't hurt

have checked the sold prices bit on rightmove, other houses sold for :

may05 - £205,000
sept 05 - £200,000
march 06 - £235,000, this one is too recent to be on the sold pirce list so paid £2 and got the info from the land registry web site - best £2 ever spent!

we are in a good position, our buyer is willing to go to her mums if we can't keep up with the chain. chain is -

first time buyer (who want to be in by 8 weeks) - couple - our buyer - us - house we want, they will go inot raf married quarters

am going to ring estate agent today but need to sound cool, calm and confident, not a bumbling idiot with 2 kids dangling off me!

I know G we were very lucky

If the hose next door sold for £235 Is bigger and better condition, I would defo offer £225

Does sound like it is overpriced in that case. The market has pretty much flattened since last summer price wise. Try a lower offer you never know!

there are o houses to buy around here. very few coming on the market.

spoken to our estate agent and got advice from her too. have just put in an offer of 228k, but also asked, if they won't accept that, bearing in mind the sold price of next door, what would they consider as a resonable offer.

will keep you posted.