I viewed a house yesterday that needs quite a bit of work done to it (most likely electrics rewired, old conventional boiler replaced with a combi + hot water tank removed, new bathroom, flooring, external painting, the jungle of a garden sorted, some repairs to the roof etc.). It's in a Kent postcode but a London borough, a 3 bed + study and large garage detached 1930's house less than 10 minutes walk from a zone 5 station.
It's on at OIEO £250k.
It was a 1 hour open house viewing - it wasn't absolutely packed but there were about 5-6 other viewers in the time I was there (about midway through the hour slot), a lot of them seemed to be talking about the issues mentioned above, especially the garden.
I could offer up to £275k and still have money left for the work needed but it would be a squeeze and obviously I don't have to make a silly high offer if everyone else is going to offer £255k. But I don't want to lose out because it's a unique house (I haven't seen any other detached houses within my budget/search areas!). So I'm thinking of offering £261,700 and explain my excellent buying position (large deposit/let to buy remortgage on my current place so no mortgage on the house). But I'm worried a developer will offer higher and they won't let me up my offer as everything around here seems to sell as best and final offers with no much room for negotiation...
What would you do?