What's a reasonable offer and what is just cheeky?

[beansprout]

Have seen a place today that has been on for £285k for a while. We are hoping to get an offer on our place quite soon (and won't put in an offer until we do). I think the price of the place we like will drop soon. I would like to put in an offer but am not going to offer something like £260k as that would mean that we pay stamp duty. If we offer £249,995 then we avoid the stamp duty.

Would this constitute a cheeky offer or do you think it is just a reasonable one? Surely no-one expects someone to pay £260k or somesuch given the stamp duty threshold.

Am I making any sense?!!

It would normally be cheeky but not at the mo. imo.. There are various ways of finding out what they bought it for and what their equity might be. Have you used propertybee or any of the other ways of checking prices. Personally think we are only at beginning of second phase of credit crunch - I assume you've had a look at propertycrash? It might be cheeky but could be a good offer from their point of view - why are they selling and how big a mortgage do you need? We are renting having sold in Feb.. Altho would love own home am prepared to wait - not in vulture like way - partly because of wider economic things job security etc. There are worse things than renting - is it something you'd consider?

220 max

God, I think £250 sounds bloody reasonable - they'll probably bite your hand off.

Interesting. Their EA told me this morning that they have recently dropped the price.... by all of 10k. They have already bought so are presumably paying for 2 places.