Questions You’ll Need to Ask While Buying A Home !!

When you’re thinking about buying a home, you might gloss over a few things that you don’t find too important. You may forget to ask if there’s anything special about the house that you need to know about (historical importance or a feud with the neighbours). You may not know how many owners a home has had (if there has been 10 in 10 years, that’s a warning sign you need to watch out for). You’ll want to ask if there are any issues in the area that are making the current owners leave, and you will want to know what’s available in the neighbourhood.

Is there anything about the house you should know about?

This is a big question that most home buyers just don’t ask; they figure with disclosure laws that the realtor's will tell or that the owners will disclose, but that’s not always the case. Maybe someone died in the house, maybe there’s a big problem with the neighbour next door and this is why they’re moving out. You’re going to have to ask to find out in most cases, and if you ask they have to tell. Don’t be afraid to prompt the question, it’s your new home that we’re talking about.

How many owners has his house had?

You need to know if there have been a lot of owners – if it changes hands every couple of years, this should be a big red flag that you may not want to buy this home for sale. When you’re shopping for real estate it’s important to know that this is a home that people want to live in. The more you know about the previous owner’s issues the better; it’s important to keep in mind that there’s no such thing as a perfect house, but it never hurts to try and find one.

Are there any changes coming to the area?

Are they selling the house because half the neighbourhood is about to be a parking lot for a new mall? New plant coming to town? Did they find some radioactive waste next door? You’re going to want to know if there are any major changes coming to the neighbourhood. If the sellers won’t give you a straight answer, look around the neighbourhood and check for “for sale” signs; they’re always a good sign that a mass exodus is taking place. This isn't always a bad thing though, you can find some great deals on luxury real estate that way.

What’s available in the neighbourhood?

What’s in the neighbourhood? A grocer, a gym, a rec centre and a park for the kids? The more you know about a place the better off you’re going to be. Ask the sellers or the realtor's showing you the property what they know about the neighbourhood, what’s available and what’s interesting for you. They’ll know best and be able to help you figure out if this is really the right house for you.