I really want to buy a particular 1-bedroom flat. I've had my eye on it for years (long story)
When I go to the nationwide and other houseprice calculators and plug in that the owner paid £129500 in the second quarter of 2006, it tells me that I should pay between £109 and £112K - though this is a figure for March and doesn't take into account the small rises since then.
The zoopla site allows a much more detailed specification and came up with a higher figure taking into account the plush postcode, views and period features of £119000.
The agent indicated that the seller's psychological perspective is to get what he paid for it (£129,500). It's a "bachelor pad" - period conversion - all wood floors - that he's leaving because he's got engaged and is moving in with fiancee (I presume!)
It's just gone on the market the day before yesterday..... we would have no house to sell so should be attractive buyers.
Help! If the websites were saying to me "It's worth £129K" I'd offer that and all would be well - but I'll feel such a fool if I overpay and prices continue to drift down for several years (though we would hope to keep it for 10-12 years and therefore get our money back long term at least).
Should I visit the agents, explain I have no house to sell and can complete in six weeks, but bring the print-out of the website with me and ask them to explain the discrepancy?