I still can't fathom why people think they sould bid a certain percentage below an asking price - if people aren't looking at the asking price but a percentage below the asking price then other people will just raise their asking price allowing for the fact that the bidders are going to go in below the asking price.
So at the end of the day you are really making asking prices irrelevant - estate agents should just say well what are you willing to pay for it and go YES or NO - no point even giving a guide as this would then be taken as an asking price and the bidder would just bid below it anyway - I really think that this is a major factor in house sales slowing down so rapidly - people are just pulling the p*** with offers because someone told them they can get 25% off.
I've tried to put this point across before with no luck .... and having just read over this again, I don't think I'm going to have much luck here either.