7 Questions To Ask When You View A New Home

When you’re taking a look at new properties, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. These are exciting moments for you and your family to have a fresh start. Especially if you’re a first-time buyer, there are essential points you need to cover when viewing your potential new place.

Often, your potential new home will be staged beautifully, and it’s easy to be carried away. Unfortunately, this often leads to a lack of consideration of potential downsides. Buying a new home is a huge responsibility; ensuring you are equipped to ask the right questions is vital.

Finding a real estate agent you trust can be difficult. The way to achieve this is to go through trustworthy sites that have lots of experience. Homes for sale at www.scottschulte.com/surprise/ are listed by professionals who can help you buy the perfect home for you.

What Should I Expect At A House Viewing?

If you’re new to this, here’s what to expect!

• You should arrive at the appointment slightly early. This gives you the chance to meet the real estate agent who will be showing you around, and view the property from the outside. Taking in the surrounding area as much as possible is great for evaluating whether you want to live there!
• Your real estate agent will then take you inside the property. Sometimes, those living there will be present at the viewing; often, though, it’s empty. If the current owners are present and willing to chat, it might be a good opportunity to speak with them about the place. However, try not to overwhelm them. They may want to let your real estate agent do the talking.

• Take your time. Sometimes, prospective buyers feel the pressure to move quickly through the new house, not wanting to delay the appointment. Resist this temptation! It’s your potential new home – look as much as you want, and don’t rush.

• After the viewing. Once you have viewed the house, your gut instinct will be pretty clear. If it’s a definite ‘no’, be honest and say it straight. If you are considering it seriously, make sure the real estate agent registers your interest.

7 Key Questions To Ask Your Real Estate Agent

‘How long has this property been available?’

This is one of the first things you should know. If the property has been on the market for a long time, it’s not necessarily a red flag, but you should ask why. There may be a very simple explanation; alternatively, it could lead to you see problems that could raise themselves further down the line.

On the other hand, if the home has just been put up for sale, and there are others viewing… You need to decide and act fast. Some homes only stay on the market for a very short amount of time before they’re snapped up.

‘What is this neighborhood like?’

Remember: you’re not just moving into the home, but the neighborhood too. If the house is everything you’ve dreamt of and more, great! But also ensure you ask about the neighborhood. If you have a family, considering the schools in the area; the crime rate; and the job market is just as important. The house itself might be perfect, but the neighborhood may fall short. Always get as much detail on the surrounding area, before you commit.

‘What are the bills like?’

You know how much your mortgage will be, but what are the hidden costs? Often, depending on the state, city, or neighborhood you choose, the taxes and utilities can be super high. This sometimes leads unsuspecting buyers into financial turmoil.

Always ask your real estate this simple question to ensure you aren’t caught out later on. You want to know exactly how much money you’ll be parting with. Buying a home is a long term investment; you don’t want it to put you in the red.

‘What is the water pressure here?’

This sounds like a super-picky question, but it isn’t! Feel free to ask about the water pressure when seeing a potential home. If you like the look, and the vibe, of a place, you’ve got to make sure it’ll satisfy your needs. Even request if you can switch on the shower or bathtub to check it out for yourself.

Once you’ve bought a house, there’s no going back. Unless you want to spend even more money repairing or replacing the heating or water system, check it out first.

‘Can I Take Photographs?’

More often than not, the answer will be ‘yes’. But you should always ask permission first. Although there will be professional photographs of the house online, always take your own if possible. Why?

Well, professional photographs might be beautiful and shiny, but you need to know what the up-close-and-personal looks like. If you see anything sketchy, like a crack or stain, snap it. Then you can ask about it later, with proof.

‘How long have the owners lived here?’

This is a vital question for a few different reasons. Firstly, if the property has repeatedly changed hands over the last ten to twenty years, it may raise a red flag. Why has it been sold so many times? Similarly, if the owners have lived there for a long time, you can ask why they have decided to leave. All this information can help you with your decision to buy or not.

Especially if you are looking to buy a home that will be your long-term family home, this is one of the best questions you can ask.

‘Have any offers been made yet?’

If you are seriously interested in making an offer, this is an essential question! The real estate agent may decline to tell you exactly how many offers were made, or the prices offered. But asking the question can’t hurt, and lets you know how quickly you need to move. If you’re aware there’s more competition for this house, you can be prepared to barter.

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