What questions should be asked about the home you want to buy?

Question

I'm shopping for a home, but when I go see the home with my agent, what are the necessary questions I should ask about the actual property?? (i.e. plumbing, termites, neighborhood, etc.)

Answer 1

As a Realtor it is important to me to find out what my buyers are looking for and what is a priority to them before we go look at property. That way we only look at homes that have new plumbing or a new roof ect.. what ever is important to my buyers. You should ALWAYS have an inspection conducted on any property you are very interested in. Also the advice of driving thru the neighborhood is very good, you should know what is happening day and night in the place you might choose to live and your Agent can not always answer questions about the neighborhood. So bottom line is decide what is important to you and make sure your agent is showing you homes that meet your needs, when you find one you love get an inspection. Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

When you go to look at a property, most likely it will only be the showing agent there, not the homeowner; that's if anybody's there at all. A termite inspection will be done, either beforehand or during the purchasing process.

Ask the neighbors about the area; you could also check with the local police department re crime rates in that area.

The main things you'll want to look at (besides the basics like enough bedrooms, view, condition) are the foundation (look for cracks, water seepage, ground contact), the electrical system (is it on fuses or circuit breaker), the plumbing (has it been updated to copper pipes), the roof (when it was last repaired).

An inspection will be done as well, again either beforehand or during the selling process, that will tell you of any problems in structure, code violations, etc.

Also, the seller must divulge any problems with the house and neighborhood, but again, that happens during the buying process.

Answer 3

You should get a home inspection done for all the details about the property itself. It costs roughly the same as an appraisal ($350) but can save you some heartache in the long run. There are a lot of things shown on the inspection that may not be shown on the appraisal. The appraisal is done mainly to show the value of the property. Any liens on the property will show on the title report. Plumbing and termite issues will also show on the inspection.

Neighborhood questions and things like that are good questions to ask but you may want to drive by the property at different times of the day to check out the neighborhood - evening time, after school, early morning, weekends. Everyplace is different at different times of the day.

Answer 4

I have no idea, but I'll guess, and I hope someone comes up with a better answer.

1. Are there any liens against the property?
2. Does someone else have a right-of-way easement through the property?
3. Are the buildings and fences all within the surveyed bounds of the property? Are their locations within the legal zoning for the state, county, municipality?
4. Are all the toilets and other plumbing things "permitted?"
5. Is that lightning rod on the roof a mere decoration, or an actual functioning lightning rod?

Answer 5

Here in Ohio, the seller is required to devulge any thing in the way of repairs, or repairs needed. Drive by the property at different times of the day, and see what is going on in the neighborhood. And ask to see the utility bills.

Answer 6

Look over the disclosures that the owner has made. Some states require different inspections. Think about flooding issues, and always have a home inspection done. You can make the contract contingent on it.