Common Buyer Questions

After spending numerous amounts of time and energy in home searching to find that perfect house, you can't wait for the sellers to move out, so you can move in and get comfortable. Before you get to comfortable and the sellers are gone, you should be asking questions. Sellers can have a lot of information about the home, neighborhood, and community. This rich information can save you time, money, and stress in the years to come. So, go ahead and ask!

What's the history of the home? Has something broke in the past? Who fixed it? A bad renovation can deplete the moral of a new home buyer. From unprofessional plumbing to a leaky roof this work can cost you big time in the future. As your agent, I always recommend consulting a home inspector before buying a new house. These inspectors are trained specifically to notice a multitude of different types of defects. However, not all the history you need to worry about is bad. Just moved and don't have a mower? Grab the phone number of the lawn care professional that mowed the lawn for the previous owners. Can't get a light to turn on? Ask the sellers if there are light switches in unusual places.

Ask sellers, what were the surprises they found when they first moved in? This question can have many positive and negative responses. Finding out that the neighbors were friendly and were very excited to have a new neighbor is great. However, knowing about the time they were petting Olivia's cute Shih Tzu and it bit them, would be great information to keep in mind. If they were shocked, you might be too.

What is the neighborhood like? Getting an idea about the noisy neighbor across the street or the bright street light outside the master bedroom are great things to plan for before you move in. Also, if you are new to the area, hearing about their favorite restaurant, house cleaner, and grocery store will help save you time and money compared to trying to find out on your own. Asking this question can lead to you finding out the good, bad, and ugly.

Is there anything you would like to leave behind? There are two advantages to this questions. It helps you understand all the fixtures that are included in the contract. Like a wall mounted TV, that will require holes in the wall to be patched. However, if the seller does not want the hassle of patching holes, and is ready to part way with an item, you could find yourself coming up with some sweet deals. Have your eye on some beautiful flowers that fit perfectly on top of that living room table? Make an offer!

Next time you are in the market to buy or sell I would be happy to help! Also, don't forget every time you list with me you receive drone photos complementary. Give me a call, text or email:

P: (618) 554-0052

E: austinyagerrealty@gmail.com

Sources:

Matt Christensen. “5 Crucial Questions Home Buyers Should Ask Sellers Before Moving In.” Find Real Estate, Homes for Sale, Apartments & Houses for Rent - Realtor.com®, 2 July 2017, www.realtor.com/advice/buy/questions-home-buyers-should-ask-sellers/.

Realist, Trulia.com's Real Estate. “6 Questions to Ask Your Home's Seller Before Moving In.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 28 June 2011, www.businessinsider.com/6-questions-to-ask-your-homes-seller-before-moving-in-2011-6.

Folger, Jean. “10 Investigative Questions to Ask a Home Seller.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 20 May 2019, www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/042115/10-questions-you-should-ask-home-seller.asp.