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- Buying a home is an extremely important decision, and there are many questions a prospective home buyer should have for the homeowners.
- We asked real estate agents to list the most pressing questions you should ask the owners of the home you’re buying while you have the chance.
- They recommend asking about neighborhood noise levels, the house’s maintenance and repair history, and other topics.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Buying a home is one of the biggest and most important purchasing decisions a person will ever make.
With the median home listing price in the US at nearly $230,000, it is no wonder the process can be stressful. It requires a long and sometimes tedious process of market research, saving, negotiating with homeowners, and doing your due diligence to know the current real estate market like the back of your hand.
There are important questions to ask a homeowner before signing on the dotted line and purchasing a home. You’ll want to know about repairs that have been done on the home or those crazy neighbors who wake them up in the middle of the night. Remember — this is your future home, so you shouldn’t be afraid to pry a little.
We asked real estate agents to list the most burning questions you should ask the owners of the home you’re buying, if you get the chance.
Here are the most pressing questions.
Why are you selling the home?
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Yes, it’s OK to ask. It’s actually necessary for you to decipher if there are any red flags before you make a down payment on a home.
It’s one thing to relocate for the purpose of a new job or growing family. However, if there are other (more hidden) reasons like maintenance concerns or negative occurrences that have happened in the home, it’s good to know before signing on the dotted line.
If you don’t get a direct answer, then don’t be afraid to ask more than once.
How long have you lived in the home?
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This question can be a good indicator of how much they enjoy living in the home.
Have they only lived there for a few months or is this a house they have made their home and built a life in? Allow the homeowners to tell their story and paint a picture. Let them really sell it to you. Listen closely for red flags or reasons why the home may not be a good fit.
Has there ever been water damage?
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This question is an important one, as water damage is one of the biggest threats to homeowners.
Water damage can flow throughout a home causing multiple areas of damage. It can lead to mold in hidden places. Ask about any leaking issues in their washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator, or other appliances.
"Knowing if (a home) has had previous water issues will help you determine if you’re buying a gem or a lemon," Andrew Helling, real estate agent and owner of REthority.com, told Business Insider.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- 16 US cities where a typical family can afford a home
- 7 things I wish I knew before buying a house
- 6 signs you should sell your home, according to experts
SEE ALSO: 7 things I wish I knew before buying a house
Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Stephanie Taylor)