I need advice pls! Putting offer in tomorrow...

hazyjo

See my post above - you will get away with the second hand value, and I still wouldn't take it over £250k.

Check values on ebay. You'll find a washing machine and a fridge freezer can be found for £50 each (I know, I bought one of each as a temporary measure when I moved in).

And don't feel obliged... if you agree to take these items, you will be stuck with them! Don't buy the bed, curtains or wardrobes if you don't actually want them!

Remember, your offer has been accepted. You do not need to pay for anything else!

Also be very careful they don't try to get you to pay for something which is already fitted, or mentioned on the EA's particulars (if they try that on, just say you were under the impression that was included as they mentioned it on the details)!

Jx

grifferz

Congratulations on having your offer accepted! Now the stress really starts!

I can only reiterate what myself and others have already said in this thread: do not be persuaded by the agents or the vendors that you will get away with paying more than 2nd hand value for their fixtures and fittings. If the total you pay out (i.e. purchase price plus extras for chattels) exceeds £250k, HMRC will be on this like a hawk to see why stamp duty was not paid.

No one who advises you in this will be liable for the stamp duty. The only person you can even remotely trust is your own solicitor and frankly if they say you can avoid stamp duty this way, try asking them if they will offer in writing to pay your stamp duty should they be wrong. See how quickly their mind changes!

Your next step after receiving written confirmation of your offer being accepted is to find a solicitor for conveyancing and instruct them. While doing that, get your mortgage application in. Decide what sort of survey you want and whether you will go for the lender's chosen surveyor for this (may not have a choice).

Dan-Dan

Make sure the chain is complete before incurring costs

ian103

i'd be telling them there is no further negoitation as its a pointless exercise to expose yourself financially to more stamp duty (currently at £2499.50.) pointless being the subject to scutiny by HMRC for stamp duty avoidance as the bill will suddenly jump to £7500 plus. Time to tell the vendors no more money on offer. We put an offer in at the £250k threshold and I checked with my solicitor to ensure that we didn't fall into the 3% bracket, his advice was simple and clear offer no more than £250k all in.

Good point made by Dan-Dan if the chain is incomplete then at this stage this could be a bit of a non-event.