Things you should ask a Home Seller

Things you should ask a Home Seller

By: The Headley Group Realty

July 2017

One of the largest single investment you’ll ever make is having a home, searching for the perfect place takes time and a lot of your energy too. And when you are ready to buy, you should be knowledgeable lot about the house.  We at the Headley Group Realty will be with you to help and guide you, as sellers how make a better decision to fill by answering the following questions:

1.       Why are you selling?

There are many reasons why people move, for job, to get a smaller or bigger house, any life events like (marriage, birth, or death) and retirement. Depending on the reason for moving, the seller may be willing to accept a lower offer if it means he or she can be out of the home faster. Of course, if the seller is in no hurry to sell, there may be little room for negotiation

2.        How much did you pay for the home (and when)?

It tells you if values in the local market have gone up or down since the seller purchased the home. Also, it may help you determine how open the sellers may be to negotiation. If the sellers won’t tell you what they paid, you can find out by checking the public records. They are available at the Register of Deeds (or a similar office, such as Recorder of Deeds) in the county where the property is located.

3.       Are there any problem in the neighbors?

Neighborhoods can be affected by any number of troubles including speeding on community streets, (from traffic, neighbors, barking dogs and/or nearby businesses), crime, bothersome odors (including cigarette smoke) maintenance, bright lights and problem neighbors who cause disturbances. It’s a good idea to at least try to find out about any problems before going through with a purchase. You can visit the local police department to research crime indicators for the neighborhood.

4.       Are there any problems with the house?

While disclosures vary by state and even county, sellers must make disclosures about such items as existing liens, lead-based paint, natural hazards (e.g., flood plain), termite problems, history of property-line disputes and defects with major systems and/or appliances (see Real Estate Flipping: 8 Disclosures You Must Make). There may be problems with the house that the seller knows about – but is not required by law to disclose – it can be helpful to ask point-blank: You might find out about problems ahead of time and be able to negotiate repair costs. Of course, you should still get a complete inspection before buying the house since there might be issues the seller doesn’t know about or won’t willingly share (see The 5 Most Overlooked Problems in a Home Inspection).

5.        What do you like most about living in your home?

This question might put the seller on the spot, but it can get the seller talking about the home, neighborhood and community. You might learn something positive about the home or area that you might not have known otherwise – the tight-knit community, the friendly neighbors, the short walk to schools, the way the sun shines through the living-room windows in the afternoon, the low heating bills or the flowers that grow in the summer on the hill behind the house.

While the listing and marketing materials include lots of details about a house (the number of bedrooms and baths, and the square footage, for example) – and the showing lets you see it firsthand – talking to the seller can help you learn exactly what you could be getting into.

If you have difficulty being able to connect with the seller, try to get some of these questions answered through The Headley Group Realty. For more information, Please call us at 336-904-6216

“To Get Ahead in Real Estate, Get Ahead with the Headley Group!”