Five things to ask the seller when viewing a house

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by: bythesea
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Word Count: 462
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 Time: 2:38 AM
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There are many visual checks you can do when viewing a property in order to determine if it seems like it offers value for money, but some of the most important information will only come with a bit of extra research. What better way to find out what you want to know about a property than straight from the horse's mouth? Don't be afraid to ask the seller plenty of questions if there are potential issues that would make or break the deal for you.

Why are they moving?

Many people aren't keen on asking this kind of question for fear of coming across as too nosey - but it's entirely relevant. Most sellers will be able to give you a straight answer. Maybe they need to move closer to work or they're upgrading to a bigger place so that they can start a family - but if the person you're speaking to can't come up with a reasonable response then it's fair to question if maybe there's something wrong with the house or area that they're not letting on about.

Crime levels

It's important to know if you're about to move into an area riddled with burglaries, so come right out and ask the seller if their home has ever been broken into or subject to vandalism. Also consider asking if they know of anybody else on the street having been affected by similar problems.

Any trouble from the neighbours?

Moving in next to anti-social neighbours can be extremely stressful, so be absolutely sure that the people in the adjacent properties are decent people by asking the seller for their truthful opinion. If you're in any doubt at all, go ahead and knock on the neighbours' doors and introduce yourself as a prospective buyer. That way you can judge for yourself what kind of people you'll be surrounded by.

Parking

Unless the property in question has a large driveway, the parking situation may be unclear. Does the house have designated spaces? If so, how many? And if not, what options do you have in terms of being able to park close to the house? Ask the seller to be clear on this as it can make a huge difference if you have to park five streets away every evening when you return home from work.

Ongoing costs

See if the seller is prepared to give you some information about the kind of general costs they generally incur through living in the property - things like the amount of council tax they pay, how much their average utility bills come to, or the cost of their home insurance policy. These things can add up quickly, so it's good to have a rough idea of how much you would need to budget for.

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