What To Ask Before Buying a Home

What do smart or experienced people do before buying a home that other people do not?

What do smart/experienced people do before buying a home that other people do not? A great place to start, communicate with someone who has owned 3 or more homes. Ask as many questions as possible. Why? The average time spent in a home is less than 8 years. Normally, a younger person or couple will jump into home ownership with a “starter home”. This is the first experience with home buying. As the family grows, more space is customary. Many will move into a larger home to raise the kids. Once the nest is empty, downsizing is customary. Many will move into a smaller home. Over this 24 to 30 year period, homeowners learn about real estate. Typically, they remember certain details about each real estate transaction. These details are positive or negative. In addition to the transactions, they feed off the memories of the home. Some of these memories will involve remodel/repairs, emergencies, government or HOA, neighbors, schools, local events.

Who has likely owned 3 or more homes? Baby Boomers. You know, your parents or maybe grandparents. Also, the siblings of these people likely have the same experiences. Also, the friends of these people have similar experiences.

Gather these people and ask questions. Do you meet for holidays or birthdays? What questions should you ask?

Home Buying Questionnaire

(Who, What, When, Where, How, Why)

Advice: Gather as much information as possible. Always refer to the words above to help phrase new questions. This should provide additional details to any topic.

Sample Questions

  1. What was the worst part of home buying from all the homes purchased? Get a full description (Who, What, When, Where, How, Why). For example who caused the issue? Was it the seller, sellers agent, the real estate agent representing you? Or was it the appraiser, lender, home inspector, home warranty, insurance agent, city, contractor? What went wrong? Could it have been avoided if the right questions were asked? At this point you may have the Who and What. It is important to get all questions answered. Get answers to When, Where, How, Why.
  2. What was the best part of home buying from all the homes purchased? A typical answer may be we purchased under value. Or we bought a fixer upper in a very nice neighborhood. Or we may a great profit when we sold because it was near the top of the market. Or it could be our real estate agent save us from buying a dump. Whatever the initial answer, be sure to ask follow up questions with the lead words above.
  3. How would you rate your real estate agent? What did the agent do well? What was lacking? Would you work with the agent again? Why?
  4. Did you experience any difficulty with the seller and the seller’s real estate agent? Once again (Who, What, When, Where, How, Why)
  5. Did you experience any structural issues with the home? Where there any renovations to the home? Were the improvements up to code and filed with the city? If no, did it cause problems? Did you see any cover up such as scratched floors, paint over mold, 
  6. Did you get home inspection and/or home warranty on any properties purchased? Did anything go wrong once moving in? What was helpful about the home inspection or warranty? Would you use this service every time you buy? Could you use someone else (plumber, carpenter, roofer, electrician, HVAC)?
  7. Did you have any issues with neighbors? What sort of issues? Did it have to do with the property line/fence? An overhanging tree? Did the kids not get along? Were they noisy? What about their pets? What about their yard? What about parking? Should you have asked other neighbors in the area prior to buying the property? How were other neighbors? Did you visit in the neighborhood morning, afternoon, and evening prior to making an offer?
  8. How do the schools rank? GreatSchools.org
  9. Was the commute to work a burden? (Most people will tell you don’t work too far from home if possible, commutes can be draining)
  10. If the appliances were included, how old were they? Did they need service? When did they begin having trouble? Did you repair or replace?
  11. What about the first rain after moving in? Was there a roof leak? What about the gutters? Did they work? Were they clean of leaves and debris?
  12. Was there radon in the house? Did you pay for radon testing?
  13. Did you check the sex offender list prior to putting in an offer? Website Criminal Watch Dog

There are many more questions I can suggest. Just email me at Ken@KenLends.com.

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