Questions a Buyer should ask when Buying a Home

When buying a home it’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of purchasing the home, not to mention taking care of all the details of moving to a new home; it becomes easy to overlook some basic questions that should be asked.

What is included with the home?  Are the appliances (refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc.)  included?  Normally in NC fixtures (any items attached to the wall) are included.  Also the range and dishwasher are normally included on NC contracts, unless otherwise specified.

Were there any additions to the home?  An addition to a home should have had a building permit and been inspected by a local building inspector.  The same should be considered for a basement that has been remodeled or finished.

Have there been any insurance claims on the home?  Has the home ever had flood or fire damage?  Is the home in a floodway, or a 100/500 year flood zone?  Flood insurance can substantially add to a mortgage payment, or to your yearly expenses.

Ask the age of the major appliances, the heating and air conditioning system, and the roof covering.  These items can represent a major expense if they fail after the buyer takes possession of the home.  In NC the Residential Property Disclosure that is completed by the seller will answer some of these questions.

Does the home have any safety hazards such as lead-based paint (on homes built prior to 1978), mold issues, or high radon gas levels?  A good home inspection by a licensed home inspector can apprise you of any hazard issues, as well as answer many of the questions above.  Home inspections cost from $350 to $600 or more, depending on the size of the home.  Most home inspectors can also do radon gas tests, which run an additional $125 or so.  Radon is colorless, odorless gas that is given off by radioactive particles often found in granite.  Radon gas can cause lung cancer.

Your real estate agent should be able to help with most of these questions, and with finding a local home inspector for you.  If your home inspector finds issues, your real estate agent will ask the seller to fix the problem issues, or negotiate the sales price to allow for repairs.

If you are looking for a home, let us know.  We are happy to help.

Stay Safe!