Top 5 questions to ask when buying a home

When it comes to buying a home, for most of us, it’s the biggest financial decision we’ll undertake in our lifetime. And so it’s more important than ever to make sure you ask the right questions to avoid buying into a problem property that could potentially drain your bank accounts with endless repair bills. We were discussing recently that some home buyers can decide to put an offer on a home in 10 seconds and although your instinct is very valuable, a little research goes a long way in preventing rash decisions.

According to recent research, buyers who rush their home buying decision and don’t ask vital, practical questions can rack up costs of up to £2,500 in unforeseen bills once they move in to the property. Buyers need to be ready to look beyond the first impressions and look at the details, just to make sure they make the choice that is right for them.

By reading the Home Report carefully, asking questions to your estate agent and/or the home owner and carefully considering any work that might need to be done to your future new home before making an offer, you prevent any surprises further down the line.

And so, we here at Clyde Property, with our wealth of property knowledge and experience, have listed the top 5 questions you should ask before signing on the dotted line.

1 – Try to look past the décor – How old are the fittings?

Often, especially in older properties, major things like wiring go years and years without any kind of upkeep. Ask the agent / seller when the electrics were last inspected – and replaced. Most electrical work need to be carried on with certified professionals, so it is important to be aware of any extra costs required and budget accordingly.

Tip – Check the condition of light switches and plug sockets as you walk around – if they look relatively old, that’s a pretty strong indicator that the wiring of the property is likely old too.

2 – Are any walls freshly painted? If so: why?

Often, if a room has a freshly painted wall, but nothing else in the room has been upgraded, it can be indicative of covering something up; namely cracks or damp. Does the room smell musty? Are there any visible structural issues on the outside of the property? Ask the seller if they’ve ever had issues with damp / subsidence, make sure you read the home report carefully and if in doubt, carry your own survey.

3 – When was the property last sold? And why are the current owners selling up now?

Many people don’t think to ask how many times a property has changed hands in, say, the last five years. If a property has had a lot of owners in the last few years, it’s time to start asking why this is the case. And why are the current owners looking to sell? Anything from leaky pipes to structural issues could hit your bank balance hard, so make sure they’re selling for the right reasons, and not trying to pass on a problem property.

4 – What are the neighbours like?

Nuisance neighbours can seriously affect house valuations, as no-one wants to live next door to inconsiderate neighbours. Make sure you ask the sellers what the neighbours are like. If they have ever lodged any serious complaints about them, they legally have to inform you before you make the decision to buy their home.

5 – How does the roof look?

Even if you can only see the roof by stepping into the garden or glancing through top floor windows, it’s worth spending the time scanning the rooftop, especially in older properties. If there are loose tiles, or loose flashing around chimneys, alarm bells should be sounding. A new roof can easily run into the thousands to repair / replace, so make sure to ask about the roof maintenance.