When you’re looking at buying a house, there is a lot for you to consider. As a buyer, you will want to know everything you can to make sure you’re getting a good deal, from whether or not the windows have double glazing to what the council tax is going to be. At Northwood, we are firm believers that informed buyers are happy buyers, and that you are going to be much more confident in your buying decision if you’ve asked as many questions as you can. Saying that, there are a couple of questions that often get missed off the list, and these can be some of the most important questions you can ask. Questions like…
Why Is The Owner Selling?
People put their homes on the market for all sorts of reasons. Some are completely innocent – needing more space because of a new addition to the family, moving areas for work or even downsizing are all perfectly normal and healthy reasons to want to sell your home. But sometimes a property comes onto the market because something is wrong with it that the owner doesn’t want to fix. Subsidence, mould, broken heating and plumbing – all also reasons people put their home on the market. We’re not saying you should assume that every house has something wrong with it – or that if a house is too good to be true that there is some deep fault you aren’t being told about. Instead, we just want to encourage you to ask the agent exactly why the owners want to sell, and what their motivation is. This will give you a clearer picture of the investment you’re making, and any further investments you might need to make into the house further down the line.
Have You Had Any Offers So Far?
Even in our current uncertain times, the housing market can still move pretty fast. Houses can go on and off the market incredibly quickly, and sometimes you need to move fast to grab a good property. Finding out from the estate agent if there have been any offers on a property doesn’t tell you anything new about the house, but it does help you decide on your next move. It might mean that you have all the time you need to mull it over and come to a decision – or it might mean that you need to come to a decision much quicker. It also gives you a good idea of what to offer – if there are no offers on the table you might be able to start with a slightly lower offer, whereas if there are already other interested buyers then you might need to rethink your offer.
What Exactly Is Included In The Sale?
You might think you know the answer to this one, but you may well be surprised. It’s up to the seller what they include in the sale and what they take with them, right down to the smallest things. For example, we have had some sellers take the carpets, curtains and even light bulbs with them when they move, which surprised the buyers when they moved into a living room with a wooden floor instead of a carpet! Similarly, you could also have a seller who is happy leaving everything, including some bits of furniture, included in the sale. Asking this question gives you a better idea of what you’re getting for your money and forewarns you if your first trip out from your new house will need to be buying curtains for the bedroom! As a bonus, it also lets the sellers know you’re a serious buyer and they’re far more likely to take any offers seriously.
What Can You Tell Me About The Local Area?
Moving to a new area can be a little daunting, and many homebuyers will fall in love with properties in areas they are unfamiliar with. The good news is that the estate agent showing you the house will be a local, and so will be able to tell you about the local area from a resident’s point of view. While Google might be able to tell you what schools are in the area, your estate agent will be able to tell you all about which roads to avoid to miss the school rush-hour traffic, which pub serves the best Sunday lunch and what the best walking spots are. This information might help you make a decision about whether this is ‘the’ house or not, so it’s worth considering.
At Northwood, we are always happy to answer any questions you may have about the property you’re viewing or the local area as honestly as we can. Our aim is to make sure you make an informed decision and end up happy with the home you buy, so if there’s anything we can do to help, all you need to do is ask. If you would like to know more, just get in touch with us today.
