Whether you are a seasoned pro or a first-time homebuyer, or property investor buying a house is a huge undertaking. It is very easy to fall in love with a property and lose sight of the more practical concerns such Is the basement likely to flood when it rains?
Helping you keep track of many of these essential questions will make your next buying great. Dwell Leeds has crafted this checklist of crucial questions of what to ask when viewing a house.
How long has the property been on the market?
If the property you are viewing has been on the market for more than three months, other viewers likely have previously raised concerns. The solution? – if you are keen because you see that the house has a lot of potential buildings, surveys are a fantastic way to discover any potential problems before you get too attached to the idea of investing into the property.
Has there been much interest in the property?
Try to gauge what’s been the general interest in the property. Ask how many viewings there have been and if any offers were made. Your real estate agent will likely tell you about these without disclosing the offer amounts.
What’s the area like?
This is an important consideration, be it you are looking for questions to ask when viewing a house to rent or questions to ask when viewing a new build house. For example, you should consider what schools are like in your new home in the area? What is the crime rate? What are the nearest transportation links? And are there any hospitals, or parks nearby etc.?
How long have the owners lived there?
You should know why the owners are moving out, especially if they have not lived there for very long. This can be for various reasons, such as they have only discovered issues after they have moved in. Of course, they could simply look to expand or move to another city.
Questions to ask when viewing a new build house
Buying a new build is as much about the builders as the property. You need to carefully consider the builders’ records becasyue it will steer your buying decision. For a quick rundown of the situation, ask your builders;
- Wha other projects have they successfully completed?
- What do you get with the new build home?
- What is included with the new home warranty?
- Is it a Freehold or Leasehold?
- How many other properties have been sold?
- What help is available for purchasing our new build home?
What is the first thing to do when viewing a house?
Inspect the floors
The best way to see if the plumbing is up to par or not is to look at the floors for unusual sagging or dipping near the bathrooms.
Any cracks in the wall?
Finding cracks in the wall is never a good sign. A crack simply means that there are structural problems. Smaller cracks are nothing to worry about, but the larger cracks and cracks with discolouration may indicate leaks.
Keep an eye out for water in the basement
If it has been raining and the basement is still dry thas definitely good news. However, if the weather has been dry and the basement appears to be damp, you should probably look for a deeper issue and find out where the water is coming from.
Find out the history
Property experts at Dwell advise asking the viewing agent how long the house has remained under the same ownership. A quick flip job has a more significant potential for oversight. You might be lured with the new appliances, tiles or fixtures, but there won’t be any new piping behind those. The history of a property is significant for the mortgage and insurance processes
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Evaluate the roof
Find out when the roof was installed and if it is still under warranty. Older houses might have several layers of roofing, which might have asbestos, and at some point, one has to remove all those layers of roofing – you never know what you might find when that happens.
It might come in handy to know what do asbestos ceiling tiles look like, just in case you come across such type.
Assess the trees outside
Although trees are not considered part of an inspection, they are also essential to check as they can become a problem later. Trees near the house can put all sorts of risks on the property, such as the braid catching fire or falling during a storm. Additionally, gutter filling with the leaves, roots reaching into the basement, or bug infestations might be more minor risks the braid can pose to the property.
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How many times should you view a house before buying?
Generally, 4 to 6 viewings should be sufficient. They are taking two to three visits inside the property, with the appraiser or/and realtor, with two to three additional visits scouting the property and neighbourhood – independently from the outside.
How long after a house viewing should you make an offer ?
There is no right or wrong answer; however, it is always a good idea to view a property multiple times before making an offer. Viewing a property 4 to 6 times before making an offer is considered best. However, you should view the house as many times as you need to ensure you make the right choice..
Can you put an offer on a house before viewing?
While viewing the house, you need to ask questions about the house’s structure and the price and the surrounding area. It is advisable not to rush to make an offer before gathering all required information.
Can you make an offer one a house you haven’t seen?
Sight, unseen property buys, are not ideal ; however, it can be done with today’s swift technology, including 3D video tours, video calling apps, and remote inspections.
Final Conclusion from Dwell-Leeds
The above questions were designed to help you guide your through the buying process in order to make an informed decision and keep you from losing sight of the important things. Following these will help you eliminate options that could lead to severe burdens in the longer run. For more information, contact us today, and our experts will be happy to help you with any inquiries or questions you might have.