You can go a long way down the road before you find out they're sheisters.
What if second offer are chain free? and the highest bidder are a buy-to-let business?
Just throwing some scenarios out there :)
Sounds like the ruthless stow bros way. Yeah go highest. Friend sold through them and literally I think they were sold up something chronic.
You buying in area also?
How much investigating can you do before you accept an offer?