9 Questions To Ask When Buying A House

The process of buying a home can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. To help you make the most of your next house viewing, we’ve put together a list of nine questions to ask when buying a house.

Our Top 9 Questions To Ask When Buying

1. How much interest has there been in the property/development?

By finding out how many people have viewed or enquired about the house, you’ll be able to more accurately gauge how much ‘thinking’ time you have to make a decision.

Therefore, you need to be prepared to act quickly – especially if the property is receiving a lot of interest.

2. Is there a chain?

Whether or not the property is part of a chain can have a significant impact on a few things.

If there’s no onward chain (e.g. new home, bereavement or emigration), it’s likely you’ll be able to move quickly, especially if you’re not part of a chain yourself. If you don’t need to sell your own property first, then you’ll have more leverage as a buyer. This is because you won’t hold up the buying process.

Make sure you use this to your advantage during negotiations.

3. What’s included in the sale?

If you’re not buying a new build property, then you might find the previous owner is leaving items behind which might be of benefit to you. We often hear about white goods or sheds being left. This can be great news for buyers, but if you don’t want or need these items, you will have to factor in disposing of them.

However, if you are buying a new build property, there might be optional extras you can buy which will be ready for you on the day you move in.

4. What are the neighbours like?

When moving into an unfamiliar area, it’s worth finding out what the neighbours are like as they can sometimes make or break your experience of living in the property. However, if you opt to move to a development of new homes, you and your neighbours will be the ones creating the community which can also be a risk.

5. How much does it cost to run?

Running costs can vary wildly from house to house, so it pays to do your research and ask the right questions. Find out how much the Council Tax is, along with the average spend on utilities, by asking the seller or researching online. Finding out this information can help you budget for each property accordingly.

6. Which way does the house face?

If you like relaxing in the garden on summer evenings or reading books in natural light, the direction the house faces can make a big difference. However, you’ll often pay a premium for a south-facing garden as they receive the most sun throughout the day.

7. How much work will be required after moving in?

Again, this can have a significant impact on your budget. Therefore, some key things to find out about are:

Improving energy efficiency
Addressing damp problems
Changing the décor

8. Are you open to offers?

Negotiation is a common part of the house-buying process. Therefore, find out how to make an offer. Then, if you’d like to buy the home, you’re prepared.

It is also worth having a chat with the seller or estate agent to determine what may be deemed too low or too high. Find out if any other offers have been made and rejected.

9. When can we move in?

By setting a date in your diary, you can plan your other jobs, such as instructing a conveyancing solicitor, packing your belongings and arranging a removal van.