That can be very telling!”. If you know in advance that the home has structural issues or … If so, who carried them out and did they provide a warranty? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Make sure you ask yourself these 9 important questions before moving forward. But if you’re a parent, then you’ll want to know there are other kids around, that your kids will like the area, and that there’ll be willing childminders around!”. The last thing you want is to buy a house next to a registered two doors down. First, ask the seller. Does the property have any lead pipes fitted? “Either way, that can be valuable,” says Matthew Smythe of Belle Property Neutral Bay. Is there any plant life growing in it, or does it need any repair work? If they can’t give you a precise answer – preferably with documentation – get expert opinions. This is one of the most important questions but many people don’t think to ask it, says Buyer’s Agent Stefan Miraglia, Director of IPC Property in Adelaide. 3. You know you’re getting the building itself, but beyond that, it’s not always clear. Price. Navigating This Important Tax Form, 3 Things To Help You Stick To Your Savings Goal, The Best UK Refer A Friend Schemes & Referral Codes. Some may not be relevant to your house, but hopefully there will be enough to make you feel more confident about the viewing process. 2. It means that when you buy the home, you will fully own and be responsible for the solar panels. I also wanted to thank you – I have been looking at many similarly titled lists, but have found yours by far the most elaborate and helpful one. Required fields are marked *. What type of gas and electricity meters are there installed – are they credit meters, prepayment (coin or key) meters, standard or smart meters? “You should question the agent on why they think the house is worth what they are selling it for,” Miraglia says. Who am I speaking with? He might give you this valuable information even before you make a deal. It is vital to know if the sellers are serious or toe-dippers. Are there, or have there been, any boundary disputes with neighbours? This is one of the major questions to ask when buying a house — and one of the questions that no one really wants to ask: Was someone murdered here? First, it’s important to get the reason why the homeowners are selling … Q: How Long Have You Lived Here? To take this list with you as a convenient, easy-to-use notebook to compare multiple house viewings, click here to buy my book, the Homebuyer’s Journal*! So ask LOTS of questions so you can be as happy with the house over the long term as you are at first sight! “I always ask the agent’s opinion,” he said. “But you can always follow up by asking if they would accept a pre-auction offer.”. If it’s thatched, when is the next re-thatching due? 28. “For instance, if you’re a hipster, you don’t want to be surrounded by mums and dads and kids. Do the ground floor windows have locks, and are any of the keys missing? The burden is generally on the real estate agent to keep their client, whether buyer or seller, fully informed and educated as to what’s happening. 7. Ask to see the fuse board – is the wiring up to date? I just discovered my list in an old handbag, so I decided to turn it into a post to help anyone else who might be worrying about what to look out for when viewing a house. What Is A W2? What council tax band is the property in? Is the property leasehold or freehold? ), 39. Of course, there are also times when you’ll be competing against other buyers to be the first in line to purchase a home. “It’s great to hear which features they particularly loved, and understand the house even more. Does the foundation looks solid and without repair? 14. . 10. Has there ever been a fire or damage from a bad storm? Finding the right home involves research, so you’ll need to ask the right questions. Your email address will not be published. As a general rule Australian properties usually sell up to 10% less than their original asking price. There are certain aspects of a property that can make it cheaper to buy, but at the same time, these features can hurt the value of your property when it comes time to sell. “With later purchases, I did, and sometimes the previous owners would even come around and reminisce about their time in the house,” he said. 18 questions to ask your estate agent that will save you a great deal of heartache and money in the long run. 29. How’s the broadband service in the area? Knowledge is power and asking your estate agent the right questions could save you a great deal of money and heartache in the long run.. Your real estate agent can help you understand the process. Look for cracks, but also look for evidence of cracks being covered up by wallpaper that doesn’t look right or paint applied over filler). What kind of roof does the property have? 15. What did they pay for the home? What’s the reason for the sale? Residential agent Jason Smit from Brisbane’s Sparrow Real Estate says it’s important to find out exactly how much the whole process will cost, and not simply settle for the first quote an agent provides. 27. Try to find out how much others have paid to buy the freehold. The Land Registry website will give you useful information. And what’s included in the sale? And how long has the home been on the market? So yep, ask the right questions and be forearmed before you buy, and it can work out well for you! 34. The easiest case is when the homeowner paid cash for the solar panels. Let me know what you think about this list, and add your suggested questions in the comments below. “What are the upfront costs, what are the costs if my property doesn’t sell, how negotiable is the agent on their commission fee and can they justify their commission f… 9. Of course, every buyer wants to know how much their property might sell for, but what about how much you’re forking out to get the deal done? Here is a checklist of questions to ask your realtor before making an offer to buy a house: Why is the seller is selling? For a full list of questions to ask the estate agent, visit our guide to making an offer on a property. 6. Here are the questions to ask. 3. But make sure to independently verify that with the local council. (Can you see it, smell it, or is there a smell of fresh paint that could be a trick to cover up damp?). How many days has the house been on the market? When I was viewing houses to buy, I was worried about getting it wrong – not asking the right questions, or missing something important. Use this app to track the sun’s movement over the property without even viewing it! “Sometimes an agent will volunteer that information to motivate the purchaser, and they might not say otherwise. 30. If you don’t ask this question when buying a house, you might go with whatever number a … Are all of the lights working? How long have the sellers lived there? When you view a house, always go prepared with a list of questions to ask the estate agent. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our. While you can ask the agent that, however, Bright says you never know if you’re going to receive a straight answer. What are your total costs? Can I Pay Child Support Directly To My Child? If leasehold, how long is left on the lease? 17. Even if you’re buying the property as-is, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. Are there any public rights of way passing through the property? 1. If you find a house you really want to purchase, then don’t be shy to ask your real estate agent whether the seller is ready to reduce the price. If they used a loan, they may have an outstanding balance and still be paying off the loan, even after selling the house. I agree these questions are important especially when you are planning to buy a house. We need to know who we are speaking to. 1. No home is perfect beneath the surface, and few know this better than your real estate agent. In a seller’s market, it may be more important to act quickly and stick to the most essential questions. Are the walls structurally sound? You need to ask lots of questions to help you negotiate with the seller for a good price. You can research the property’s history and location online, as well as look up crime statistics in the area. This post contains affiliate links, marked by *. “That made the whole thing feel very satisfying to hear about past joys that had taken place there and how they felt about the property. So, here are some of the best questions to ask the seller when buying a house: Questions About The Sellers Position: First up, it’s always good to find out as much as you can about why the vendors are selling up. 38. Is there adequate mobile reception indoors? 20. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. And if you want to ease the process while also maximizing profits, then being prepared is key. 1. If you’re a first-time house buyer, you might be excited about making your big purchase, but you might feel a bit overwhelmed too. Ask to see the boiler – how old is it? This one is pretty important. The questions to ask when buying a new home are centered on getting you as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not to move forward. A recent article on LANDTHINK entitled, “Top 20 Questions for Land Buyers” garnered a lot of attention and created quite a bit of controversy among LANDTHINK readers. If so, when was it done? Is the house looking straight and solid? 1. You can also ask them how long the property's been on the market for and whether anyone's made an offer. Learn how your comment data is processed. Where is the disclosure statement? 13. 40. “It was lovely seeing all that neighbourliness,” she said. So I wrote up a list to take with us on our next viewing, and it really helped me to feel confident and assured… and we bought that house! If you’re buying a house, one thing that can take up a few days or sometimes a few weeks is waiting on answers to enquiries that your solicitor has raised. Will any of the glazing need to be replaced? Posts may contain affiliate links, however, all my views remain impartial. It may also be worth asking the agent if there are any development applications in the area that might affect the property, says Bradley, perhaps potentially blocking views or overshadowing. Motivated a vendor is to sell property ’ s the reason for selling offenders in the morning, afternoon )... 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