Next week, I am going to look at a house, that so far, I am quite interested in. This is my first time for something like this. What are some specific questions I should be asking the owner, and the realtor? Also, what are some specific things that I should be looking for? Obviously, I know the basics and obvious stuff. But, but I'm looking for things that you might not think of right off if you've never been in this situation. Any help?

Most of the questions are common sense, but I'll list a few of those questions that I should have asked before buying my own home.


Will you own the plot of land as well, or is this rented/leased?
How old is the house?
When was any renovation work done, and were the builders registered?
Has the house a building certificate? (Not sure if this applies in the US).
Are there any upkeep charges?
Any nearby commercial/industrial sites?
Power/gas/water suppliers. Who? Is there choice, and have there been problems?
Any leaks, water, gas etc?
What have prices done in the area in the past few years?
Have any nearby houses been extended recently? (ie would there be scope for you in the future).
Crime rate?
How busy is the street?
What are the neighbours like?
Why are they moving?
What comes with the house? (ie what fixtures and fittings will they be taking along with them, and would they be willing to sell anything? The current curtains, although possibly hideous, should fit the windows, and would suffice until you can get new ones).
How long does it take to get to the shops?
WHERE'S THE NEAREST GYM?
Plenty to be going on with, some relevant, some not. My only piece of advice is to ask as many question as possible, and if you're not getting straight answers, probably assume the worst until proven otherwise.

Andrew.

go to the town hall and ask to see anything that they have on file for the property. they will have tax info. any permits pulled site plans and potentially tons of other information and drawings. they also could have next to nothing but its always worth a look. for you current homeowners out there you should also do this on your property. if you decide you like the place hire an inspector to give it a once over. they will be able to identify any potential problems and you can use their information for some leverage when making bids or request that the seller have any repairs made first. is the property listed on the multiple listing service or online somewhere?

- How old is the roof?
- Check the attic... look for any mold / mildew
- Water problems in the basement?
- Check for stains on walls and ceiling
- Look for bubbles in the wall paper
- Look for mold / mildew problems
- Turn on the showers and sinks to check out the water pressure
- Has the house been checked for Radon?
- Do they have vinyl replacement windows?
- Is there a chimney? Does it need maintenance?
- Does the outside of the house need to be painted? Vinyl siding?
- Does the window trim need to be painted -or- is it wrapped with vinyl coated aluminum?
- Check all windows to see if there is any rot in the sill
- Smell around - if something smells funky, there could a problem
- Does the current owner smoke?
- Check the furnace, water heater, etc.
- Open up the kitchen cabinets and look around - underneath sink, etc.
- Have they had issues with rodents / pests?
- Has there ever been a termite problem?
- Bring a flashlight

Actually, you'll have to pay (or at least in FL you have to) for a professional inspector to come and crawl around the house, poking and prodding for potential problems. No mortgage company will touch you until this is done and the house passes satisfactorily. Otherwise, the homeowner has to fix any potential problems (at his expense) before the house can be sold. Or he could just keep living there with the problem...

Call around. There are companies that specialize in these inspections. It'll run you about $200 to get it done and you'll have a detailed inspection report, including "upcoming" repairs that you might be responsible for. Things like an aged roof that may not need replacement now but may very well soon. Old appliances. Plumbing that might be "OK" but nearing the end of its useful life.

Good luck.

-R

Get a home inspector (Home Inspection Service in the yellow pages here) to check it out before making an offer. We did and he helped us out a lot. He didn't find anything major but showed us a lot of things that will need work sometime in the future. The house was built in 1927. Did a much more thorough look over than I would've ever done. When he was finished he gave us a 5 page typed report on his findings. Well worth the $200!

Edit: Yep what bluestreak said. We got the inspector before we talked to the bank (we knew we could get the loan) and they required a copy of his findings (I forgot about that). So yeah it'll probably be required anyway.

an inspection is not required (at least not two years ago when i bought my house) here in CT. the mortgage company sent out an appraisor. it might vary bank to bank instead of from state to state.

an inspection is not required (at least not two years ago when i bought my house) here in CT. the mortgage company sent out an appraisor. it might vary bank to bank instead of from state to state.

I've had two houses in FL and both required inspections. Funny, because the first house I had was a glorified mobile home. Whether or not it's required, get an inspection done. You'll be glad you did because they're more thorough than any list we could cook up here for you, unless we have a professional inspector in our midst.

-R

Thanks for the responses so far. In case anyone was interested, here a few pictures of the house (keep in mind that I live in Southwest Wisconsin, so this is a rural community. hehe)

http://www.extremesounds.net/images/house/house1.jpg
http://www.extremesounds.net/images/house/house2.jpg
http://www.extremesounds.net/images/house/house3.jpg
http://www.extremesounds.net/images/house/house4.jpg
http://www.extremesounds.net/images/house/house5.jpg

My list above was just some things to think about when you are walking around the house. Sounds like you are just looking right now... so just be vigilant. Don't be afraid to get in there and hunt around.

Definitely get an inspector when you are ready to make an offer. I think the offer can hinge on the results of the inspection.

Good point Hatter. I looked at around fifty houses before I found one. Then a house in my family went up for sale and they sold it to me and my wife at a fair price. Landed in my lap. Dont get discouraged by all the shopping around.