First time buyer and baby on the way - have we got our sums right?

Thrugelmir

MrChips wrote: »

Thanks - I agree much more than £5k will be hard to back up. Do you think even £5k will be tough to justify?

Write yourself a list to justify.......

MrChips

Thanks guys. The agent is preparing a list for us today, and she will be assigning a provisional valuation for us to consider.

When we spoke previously, she thought that the chattels "might" be worth £5k-£6k and was suggesting we also consider paying the agents' fees if we needed some other way of making up any difference. I've heard that this isn't a legitimate way of avoiding stamp duty as the cost is effectively part of the price. Is that right? Are there any other methods in routine use for side stepping stamp duty?

We are minded to stick to an offer of £500k plus justifiable amount towards chattels, but we want to be prepared for any other schemes they may put to us...