What Should You Ask A Home Seller Before Making An Offer?
Before you make an offer on a home, it is important to get as much information about the home and the surrounding neighborhood. Your new home is a major investment and researching it is necessary. To help you get the information you need, here are a few questions to ask the seller.
What Is the History of the Home?
Most states have laws that require sellers to disclose certain information to buyers before selling their homes. However, there is some information that is not covered by the disclosures that you need to know.
For instance, if there have been maintenance problems, you need to know. You also should ask about any records that the seller has kept about the home. Records, such as the HVAC service dates, are important and can help you continue with the maintenance of the home on a proper schedule.
In addition to this, you should ask about the history of the neighborhood. The more you know about your new neighbors, the easier it will be to feel at home.
Where Are the Utility Control Panels?
One of the worst things that could happen after you move into your new home is a major water break in the plumbing. When this happens, if you do not know when the main water shut off valve is, you could have an even more serious problem on your hands. To avoid this, you need to ask the seller about the location of all the utility control panels.
You also need to know if there are any special tricks to operating the appliances and utilities in the home. For instance, do you need to use a special tool to turn off the water?
Is the Seller Leaving Anything Behind?
Some sellers are willing to leave behind furniture and other furnishings without any additional charges. However, if you see something that you want, you can likely negotiate with the seller to leave the item behind.
If the seller is choosing to leave anything behind, make sure you inspect the area behind and beneath it. For instance, if the seller is leaving a framed painting on the wall, check for any hidden problems behind it. You want to avoid the responsibility of repairing undisclosed damage left behind by the seller.
One of the best sources you have for determining which questions to ask the seller is your real estate agent, like Amy Willis & Associates LLC. He or she can ensure that the important questions you forget are asked and answered.
