The great thing about having a Realtor represent you when you buy a home is that we’re here to work on behalf of your best interests.
That doesn’t just apply to negotiating with the seller’s agent, arranging inspections, and keeping track of all the paperwork that’s involved in buying a home, either. Instead, we’re here to answer your questions and help you become a more informed homebuyer!
That being the case, here are a few questions you should ask your Realtor when buying a home.
Is This Neighborhood Worth It?
In real estate, it’s all about location, location, location, so when you’re looking to buy a home, you should ask as many questions about the neighborhood it’s in as you do about the house itself.
Fair housing laws prohibit Realtors from making comments about the demographics of a neighborhood, but we can certainly talk candidly about home prices in the area, whether it’s a desirable neighborhood or one that’s up-and-coming, amenities that are nearby, and so forth.
Furthermore, information about crime in specific neighborhoods is available online, so between your Realtor’s expertise and a little online searching, you can be sure that the neighborhood your dream home is in won’t be a nightmare.
Who Would You Recommend for Remodeling, Home Inspections, and so Forth?
As Realtors, we work very closely with a wide-range of professionals, from handymen to lenders, contractors to painters. As a result, we know who can do what to help you in the home buying process.
Having local experts that we can call on your behalf only helps us in securing your dream home for the best price, too.
For example, if the home you like needs new windows, by all means, ask your Realtor for a few names and numbers of qualified professionals who can have a look and give you an estimate, that way you can factor in the price of the new windows when you make an offer on the house.
We’re here to watch your back, so having those kinds of connections with local experts is incredibly important – and beneficial to you. All you have to do is ask!
What’s the Sales History of This Home?
Getting details on the sales history of a property is a good weapon for you to have as you make your decision about what house you’d like to put an offer on.
Here’s why…
If a home has been listed several times and never sold, that might indicate that the seller is stuck on getting a specific price and might not negotiate. On the other hand, a home that’s been listed for sale several times without selling could indicate that there’s something wrong with the home that’s caused potential buyers to shy away from putting in an offer in the first place.
Additionally, if a home is bank-owned or otherwise distressed, you could find yourself in a strong position to get the home at a lower price because banks would rather take a smaller hit up front than sit on the property for an extended period of time.
Again, asking the right questions can not only help you be more informed but can also have a very real impact on how much money you offer for a property, if you make an offer at all.
So, the next time you talk to your Realtor, don’t hold back with your questions!