What should we offer?

[VerityClinch]

Edwardian detached in lovely large village/small town, on for £685k.

Owners bought for £645k in 2006. Have done nothing to improve or even maintain it.

Their last sale fell through at the last minute and they are keen to move as they have built a new house nearby.

I went with a builder today and it needs around £30k of work (re-wire, redecorate, roof repairs, new windows (lots of them and they are HUGE).

We are chain free, have mortgage offer in principle, husband is solicitor and conveyancing will be in-house and fast. Searches are fast here too, we reckon we could exchange and complete on same day, in about two weeks time.

Our position is strong, theirs isn't, so much. I can't believe house us worth more than they paid especially as they haven't maintained it (they've hardly even cleaned it!), we need to do the work!

So, how much to offer and tactics, please??

Sorry to hijack. The vendor needs to sell due to ill health and we know that. We are ready to move without selling an have finances ready to go and won't quibble surveys. They have had no other offers, but are adamant they want 375! Argh!

Have now increased offer to £633k.

Bloody owner is in bloody France and bloody uncontactable.

I hate waiting

Argh! I hate that too. Fingers crossed they accept.

You're at about 92.5% of asking price now. I thought that was what stuff went for right now, if asking price isn't ridiculous?

We are currently buying a house at 92.6% of a reasonable asking price, i.e. £30k under all the similar but stuck ones nearby.

Yep, I hope she bites this time. She should, it's a good offer

The house has been on the market since February. The agent says one offer that failed to progress, but I think there have been two (have been watching the market for months!) so she MUST want to get it away now surely?

Anyway, won't hear anything until tomorrow now.

Good luck!

Wooooh! Offer accepted on £635,500.

No chain at all, so working to exchange in 3 weeks, completion a week later.

Then a four month build/renovation.

Am jubilant (think we got a great price, a fair price for a great house) and terrified (am now officially an "interior designer" and have A LOT of decisions to make very quickly) in equal measure.

But, for tonight, mainly wooooooooooooh

congratulations verity! v jealous - our dream house fell through today :( :( :(

Oh no - so sorry

This is the fourth house we've offered on, and the second to be accepted, the first dream house fell through with problems in the chain at both ends.

This time, though, no chain so hard to see where it could go wrong. I hope.

Oh no runt. So sorry.

We're wondering whether to go to 330k or waiting for the vendor to come to us. We know he won't sell because of the minor inconvenience of my parents farm (outs self) adjoining his property which has put his two viewers (since may) off. i think he's dreaming if he will go no lower than 375k and it needs new kitchen and bathroom and work doing at one end if the house. Especially considering that we won't quibble surveys or incur agents fees. Argh! Stupid stupid! So frustrating.

Aaaaannnnddd breathe.