Real Estate - 买房 - Buying a Home?(7) Home buyer FQAs(3)

[QIANSHUIBA]

Are There Any Questions I Should Be Sure to Ask Before Making An Offer?
When you are buying a home, there are many problems that the seller is
obligated to disclose. For example, in most states, it is illegal to withhold
information about major physical defects on the property, and according to the
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (U.S. Code §4852d), anyone
selling a house built prior to 1978 must disclose all known lead-based paint
and hazards in the house. But, these disclosures don't always paint the entire
picture of the home. Here are six questions you may want to ask that can offer
additional insight about the prospective home before you make a final
decision.

1) Why is the seller selling the house?
This question may help you evaluate the "real value" of the property. Is there
something about the house the seller does not like? If so, you may be able to
adjust the purchase offer accordingly.

2) How much did the seller pay for the home?
This question can, in some instances, help the buyer negotiate a better
deal-maybe even get the seller to carry part of the loan. However, it is
important to remember that the purchase price is influenced by several
factors, like the current market value and any improvements the seller may
have made to the home. The original purchase price might not have anything to
do with the current value of the house.

3) What does the seller like most and least about the property?
By asking the seller what he or she likes most and least about the property,
you might get some interesting information. In a few cases, what a seller
likes the most about a home might actually be something the buyer is looking
to avoid. For example, if the seller describes his house as being in a
"happening neighborhood," the buyer might consider this a negative factor
because the area may be too noisy or busy for his or her taste.

4) Has the seller had any problems with the home in the past?
It is also a good idea to ask the seller if he or she has had any problems
with the home while living there. Has the seller had problems with a leakage
from the upstairs bedroom in the past? If so, even if the leak has been
corrected, the floor and walls around the bathroom might have been damaged.
You should also check that these items were repaired properly.

5) Are there any nuisances or problem neighbors?
Use this answer to find out about any noisy neighbors, barking dogs, heavy
airplane traffic or even planned changes to the neighborhood, such as a
planned street widening. This may give you insight on why the seller is really
moving.

6) How are the public schools in the area?
Because the value of a neighborhood is usually greatly influenced by the
public schools in the area, finding out the buyer's perception can give you
some insight about the quality of the area's schools.

Knowing all you can about a prospective home, not only helps you decide if
it's the home of your dreams, but what offer to make as well. Your Prudential
Northwest Properties real estate professional can help you get your key
questions answered and give you advice on how to evaluate your findings. Click
here to find a Prudential Northwest Properties office near you.