Questions Home Buyers Should Ask Sellers

Six Questions Home Buyers Should Ask to Gain Insight on a Home

Unlike an automobile, you can't test drive a home before you purchase it. You have to base your decision on factors such as layout, condition, location, size, price, etc. And of course, the seller is obligated to disclose the property's condition, which may alert you to issues such as previous mold, defective water heater or leaky roof. Yet, that still doesn't always paint the entire picture.

You should ask the seller additional questions in order to gain the full picture of the prospective home before you make the final decision.

Six questions home buyers should ask:

1. Why is the seller selling the house?

   
   This question may help you evaluate the "real value" of the property. Is there something about the house the seller does not like? If so, you may be able to adjust the purchase offer accordingly.

    

2. How much did the seller pay for the home?

   
   In some instances, the answer to this question may help you negotiate a better deal. However, it is important to remember that the purchase price is influenced by several factors, like the current market value and any improvements the seller may have made to the home. The original purchase price might not actually have much to do with the current value of the house, but it can always help you gain insight to ask.

    

3. What does the seller like most and least about the property?

   
   By asking the seller what he or she likes most and least about the property, you might get some interesting information. In a few cases, what a seller likes the most about a home might actually be something the buyer is looking to avoid. For example, if the seller describes his house as being in a "happening neighborhood," the buyer might consider this a negative factor because the area may be too noisy or busy for his or her taste.

    

4. Has the seller had any problems with the home in the past?

   
   Has the seller had problems with a the central air, leakage from the upstairs bathroom, or some other problem in the past? If so, even if they have been corrected, there might be some indirect damage. Checking that these items were repaired properly is a good idea.

    

5. Are there any nuisances?

   
   Use this question to find out about barking dogs, heavy airplane traffic or even planned changes to the community, such as street widening. This may give you insight on why the seller is really moving.

    

6. How are the public schools in the area?

   
   Because the value of a community is usually greatly influenced by the public schools in the area, finding out the buyer's perception can give you some insight about the quality of the area's schools.

Knowing all you can about a prospective home will help you make a more informed decision as well as offer. A real estate professional can be a great resource in helping you get your key questions answered and give you advice on how to evaluate your findings.