Important Questions to Ask a Realtor When Shopping for a Home

 Shopping for a home is potentially a nerve-wracking experience. Viewing home after home can be draining and time-consuming, which means as the future owner of a new home, it’s time to make the process easier. A seasoned realtor will know all the ins and outs of the important aspects of purchasing a home.

Here are 8 important questions to ask your realtor when house hunting.

1. Why Is the Home for Sale?

The reason behind why the seller is moving could become the tipping point between purchasing the house and moving onto the next better option. When the seller needs to move out of their home quickly, they might be more willing to negotiate the price they’ve posted, making it easier to reach your target price.

2. What Is Included in the Home’s Price?

Purchasing a home is about more than just the walls and the floors, but all the aspects that make up a home. Before putting down an offer on a potential home, ask the realtor what comes with the home, such as what appliances or a home warranty. Appliances are an important part of any home and could drive the price up or down depending on whether they need to get replaced. 

3. Have Any Appliances Gone Through an Update Recently?

This question serves two purposes: finding out whether there is something wrong with the home, or whether you can expect any upfront costs as soon as the move is complete. Find out whether any of the aspects of the home were updated, such as the furnace or a smart thermostat. Garage door replacement costs can also get exorbitant if the garage is outdated, which means it’s beneficial to know ahead of time.

4. How Much Do Utilities Usually Cost per Month?

One of the biggest concerns when purchasing a new home is the price of the upkeep of the home from a new roof, siding, to the utilities. For families that are upgrading, it means more water, gas, or electricity spent every month as part of regular living expenses. In asking this question, it’s a good time to consider how the home was built, such as whether polysio insulation was used to help maintain the price of utilities.

5. How Long Is the Home on the Market?

Before placing a bid on the home, it’s important to understand how the market looks in the home’s area. If the home has only been on the market, a couple of days to weeks, and has attracted a lot of attention, the seller may not want to lower the price, but selling the home later should also prove easy.

On the other hand, if the home has been on the market closer to a couple of months, it means the market is slow, or other reasons prevent a potential buyer from bidding. The seller may prove more willing to negotiate the price down, but it’s vital to note that selling later may take just as long.

6. Has the Home Gone Through a Remodel?

 

A recent large remodel of a home means the seller likely rid the space of anything outdated. The likelihood of having to remove wallpaper from the inside of the home is small, requiring only a potential repaint. Apart from skipping the hassle of working to remove wallpaper, it’s possible the home might price higher, making the seller less willing to budge on the original selling price.

7. How Much Have Other Homes Sold for in the Surrounding Area?

Understanding the current market goes a long way in placing the correct bid on a home. In an area where the prices are steadily climbing, the seller might not be willing to budge on the price of the home by a large amount, but there is a good possibility of selling higher later.

Rising prices also support the indication of how affluent the area is considered. It’s likely the neighborhood is kept up to date with the newest trends, has much to offer in terms of jobs and shopping, and has potentially excellent schools for children.

8. What Type of Weather Can Be Expected in the Area?

No matter how far the move, there’s a potential for the weather to prove much different. Some areas are more prone to harsher storms, and it’s important to note whether the home is prepared for such an event. Without dedicated features such as magnetic storm windows, the purchase budget should include the addition of such features.

Magnetic storm windows are the least expensive of the options out there to protect the windows from stormy weather, but it’s something to consider either way.

What’s the Takeaway?

Ask as many questions as possible of the realtor before placing a bid on a home as it’s one of the few ways to know exactly what comes for the price. No matter the questions asked of your realtor, ensure they paint a clear picture of not just the home up for purchase, but the neighborhood as well.

Brian Jeffries is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.