There are certain questions that you must ask before buying a house. Read below to know what questions to ask when buying a home for yourself. After all, you don’t buy a house every day.

Questions To Ask When Buying A House

In the novel “A House for Mr. Biswas”, the central plot revolves around the protagonist Mr. Biswas and his struggle to acquire a house of his own. Indeed, for most of us, until a few years ago, acquiring a house was quite a struggle, if not an impossible dream. With skyrocketing price of real estates, many people thought that the hope of getting their dream house would come true only in the twilight of their life. However this story, as mentioned before, is the situation of the past. Nowadays, owning a house has become easier what with banks practically begging people to take home loans. More and more people can now afford to own a house and in half the time that used to be required before. The struggle for owing the nest is extremely enticing, not just because it reflects a material representation, but because it is a sentiment. A home is a person’s own fiefdom; it represents his/her freedom and achievement. It is perhaps the only place where you can literally do as you please. However, buying a house does not mean just gathering the means. The task of choosing the right one is harder than you imagined. There are nearly a hundred things that you should consider before you can call the roof your own. On top of this, you are bombarded with countless choices with every house agent promising better and lucrative deals. For this, it is very necessary to learn certain questions that you must ask before buying a house, so that your dream house doesn’t turn out to be a raw deal. Read the article below to learn what these questions are that you must ask before buying a house.
 
Home Buying Questions
 
Offering Price
  • First you should find out how much the seller paid for the house. This will help you to know if the prices have gone up or down. When you know the price the seller paid for the house, you will also have more success with bargaining.
  • Find out the market price of houses of same size in the neighborhood. This will give you a good idea of how to compute your budget for the house. You will also have a proper indicator of the value of the house.
  • You should also find out how long the home has been in the market. This will help you to negotiate for a better discount. The longer it has been in the market, the better are your chances of getting it at discounted rates.
  • In addition to the home price, ask whether there are any additional fees such association fees or not. Also, make sure you inquire about the property tax and what the current percentage is lest you get a shock later on. 
Condition Of The House
  • Question the seller the age of the roof. Depending upon the materials used, roof has a life expectancy of several decades. When you know the age of the roof you can find out if it will cave in or start leaking.
  • Now question the seller on the type of foundation for the house. If the house is recently built, then it will most probably have a slab foundation. However, raised foundations are the best as it is easier to lay plumbing and electrical wires.
  • If you are living in colder climes, then you should ask if the house has insulation in the walls.
  • In case you are venturing forward to buy a fully furnished house, make sure you check all the systems and appliances in the house and ask if they have been replaced and when. 
Location Of the House
  • Ask if the house is located in a residential area or not. If it is, ask what type of properties are located in the neighborhood. This would help you get an idea not only about the place, but the value it holds. For instance, houses located in residential complexes tend to be far more expensive than those that have apartment buildings, commercial and industrial sites nearby.
  • You should also ask the seller on the demographics of the neighborhood. The last you would want is to have a house in an isolated place that has just a house or two for miles at stretch.
  • If you have children, it is important that you inquire whether or not there are the schools nearby. Even if the school is at a distance, there should be proper transportation service available so that commutation does not become a problem later on.
  • Ask if your house is located in a busy zone. In that case traffic can be quite a nuisance. The best would be to get a house that though centrally located, has a peaceful and tranquil environment.

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