what would you offer on this?

[NinjaChipmunk]

We want to make an offer on a house, our flat is going up for sale within a couple of weeks and we are in an area where house prices are still rising. The house we like is about a 3/4 mile further out than we are in surrey/ london border commuterville.

House we love is on at £349950
House next door but one sold at christmas, was on at £333333, sold for 318000 but their layout/ interior is not so good, even though it is nice iykwim?
Max mortgage we can get is £350 and to do that comfortably we may need to borrow some money from my parents and then pay them back.

DP thinks to offer £335k but I think we should start lower. I can't seem to find out when they bought it or for how much so I'm guessing they've had it a while.

I'd go in at 330.

I'd start at £325,000

Take 10% off so go in at 315K with a view to maybe going up to £330K

I would start at 315 too. Do you want to link and see if we can track down some sales prices?

oreo I'd love to link but I know the owner has kids and am conscious she may actually be on here somewhere.

who cares?! You should link, it is "out there" already, so compromise on the sellers privacy!

If you can't find the details for that house, have you searched the neighbouring house numbers (assuming they are all similar houses, e.g 3 bed semi). That will give you a fair indication of what you are looking at.

maples yes I have and it varies wildly as there is such a wide variety of housing types round there from lovely victorian & edwardian to 1950s/60s ex council.
Some very interesting replies here and I'm glad to see most of you agree to start lower than 335k

Do bear in mind they are unlikely to take their property off market until you are in a position to succeed. You may get more of an idea of what they are realistically hoping for by talking to them now, but your negotiating position is pretty rubbish until you've agreed the sale of your current property (and then you'll have a clearer picture of what you can afford too).

Dilbertina yes I know and I'm trying to hurry dp up with any diy he tinks needs doing (I'm 36 weeks with dc2 so can't actually help a huge amount as usually have to take ds out when diy goes on).
We are having a second viewing with them today so will gauge what sort of reaction the property has had so far.