Questions Some Buyers Forget to Ask

by Jen Ward

Its easy to get caught up in all the excitement and energy of finding a home. There are some basic questions to ask when looking at at a home or when visiting an open house.

Here are some of the most common and important questions to ask:

How old is the roof?
How old is the furnace, air conditioner and other HVAC equipment?
How does the price compare to similar properties in the neighborhood?
What are the characteristics of the neighborhood?
What comes with the home and what doesn’t come with the home? (kitchen appliances, chandeliers, window coverings, digital locks, security systems)
Are there any potential impediments to the sale?
Are there any outstanding maintenance issues, or repairs that need to be done?
Are there any issues that impact the full use of the property? (Look for shared driveways or walkways, public “right of way” through the property, etc.)

Before you make an offer, it’s important to take the time to ask the right questions and consider your decision carefully. You don’t want to find out, too late, that there were questions you should have asked. When we start to look at homes, I'll show you how to look at homes and discover many of the answers without even asking the listing agent.