In this guide, we share our expert tips on home improvements that can help you fetch a higher sale price. Are the walls structurally sound? Listing agents must be transparent about any and all known issues with the home. If you purchase a home with unpermitted work, you could be saddled with fines from the city as well as the costs associated with getting the work permitted or taken down completely. Every property is different and leases will be different too. Or you may just not be the right fit for the area. Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide or Other Current Students. Sometimes, what you see will vary greatly from your own personal style to put it politely. Why? But there are more questions to ask when renting an apartment than just the obvious ones. Generally speaking, even if a remodeling project isn’t adding square footage to a home, a permit is still required if the remodel includes adding or removing walls, making changes to plumbing and/or electrical or even adding a window. Ask questions to make sure you get to the bottom of whatever the reason is for the house staying on the market for a while. Questions for Group Home Providers July 13, 2015 by staff If you’ve ever thought about placing your child or loved-one who is intellectually or developmentally challenged into a group home, then you’ve surely asked yourself a variety of questions. Is there any evidence of damp? Ask for a list of property disclosures. Ask your agent for these disclosures so you can know what's going on with the home and what state its systems and appliances are in before you make an offer. … ... there are important questions to ask about a rental. 3. Have there been any major renovations and when were they done. If you’re already touring properties, it’s safe to assume that you’re satisfied with the location, price and bed/bath count of the home. Some important decision-making factors cannot be satisfied by simply looking at a property. So be cautious of any sections of flooring that adds a little too much spring to your step. However, a lot of renovations homeowners do are for aesthetics. Find out if there are late fees and when they come into play. Maybe the building is located in a flood-risk zone or the neighborhood is not as safe as it seems. These questions to ask on the home tour might seem like a lot to remember, but they’re really just a normal part of getting to know the property. Do your homework. They will have a lot more insight and knowledge about amenities, differences, and perks of nearby neighborhoods. 30 Questions You MUST Ask BEFORE Buying a House - Don't make the mistake of buying a house that you'll later hate. Of course, there are also times when you’ll be competing against other buyers to be the first in line to purchase a home. Ask about water, sewer, gas, garbage pickup, Internet, and cable TV. To help you know a house and what's entailed to take it over, here are a few more surprising questions to ask when buying a home. If touring a condo, can you show me any common areas, like the hallways or amenities of the building? asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers There’s a lot to take in when visiting a home for the first time. Odors. One of the hardest parts of your job may be answering questions. Keep attics, basements, and crawl spaces dry and well-ventilated. After all, adding a new paint color will give you the opportunity to really make the home your own, and who knows, you might even find some long forgotten hardwood floors hiding under not-so-gently used carpeting. A Brief Property Investment Guide: 5 Simple Tips, Home Sales Are Down–Here’s What You Should Know. Your agent may not be able to tell you if the neighbors are nice, but he or she can tell you what the demographics of the street are. How often has this property been sold? Examine their school profileson GreatSchools.org. Now is the time to get answers to some essential questions before signing a lease. If the property has been on and off the market multiple times within the last 10 years, it could point to a problem in the home that the owners discovered. The sellers could be moving for a number of reasons. Shows on HGTV make everyone think it’s easy to flip a house and make big bucks when selling. If a home is for sale “as is”, it’s pretty much understood that the sellers aren’t willing to make any repairs or credit for repairs (like bringing construction up to code). One of the key questions to ask when buying a house is what kind of work has been done to the house and if it was done legally. Instead, check that you’re satisfied with the square footage and overall layout of these areas and consider taking them as-is. Exposed or eroded wires, HVAC systems that lack proper ventilation and leaky water heaters are the issues that can not only cost a lot of money to resolve but they can also be major safety hazards. In a seller’s market, it may be more important to act quickly and stick to the most essential questions. April 17, 2020 October 9, 2020. If want the value of your home to increase, it’s probably better to buy the crummiest place in a nice neighborhood than the nicest place in a questionable neighborhood. Ask about the walk score and how close shopping and main roads are from the home. 5 questions to ask before visiting a nursing home. Wet or soggy spots in a yard that are accompanied by a foul odor could indicate a damaged or broken sewer line. Your agent may not be able to tell you if the neighbors are nice, but he or she can tell you what the demographics of the street are. Sometimes, however, these spots are caused by fungal diseases. “Failure to ask this question can result in a landlord eviction where someone violates the lease by subletting when not allowed to do so.” ALSO READ: 5 Ways to Afford Your First Home Previous Here are … Jot down your questions before your visit (the sample questions below will help you create your list). House Hunting And 4 other questions you’re afraid to ask. If it’s your dream to build a new construction house, go in to the process with an open mind and a clear idea of what you can expect. People often ask if they need to be present during the home inspection. Don’t panic. Wider cracks or those that run horizontal or diagonally could be a cause for concern. While it’s not something you may want to DIY, installing a fence is a relatively inexpensive upgrade to your landscaping. Remember: you’re buying the home, not the belongings inside. Check out this year’s summer real estate trends for more information on what’s going on with the market! Unpermitted additions. Created with Sketch. Remember, finding the right home may mean compromising, so make a list of the necessary home amenities compared to the … Questions to Ask When Touring a House on Video-Chat. Do they like the nursing staff? / Visiting Checklist: Questions to Ask When Touring When it comes to finding the perfect senior community for yourself or a loved one, it can be hard to know where it start . Is It OK to Use the Bathroom When You’re Touring a House? ARPFS does not own or operate any community or senior care provider that it refers clients to. Ask them to voice any concerns about the home. If there are major concerns, you know beforehand and can figure out if the home is worth it. A checklist to help you ask the right questions when selecting an assisted living facility. While these things can sometimes slip your mind, the perfect time for potential tenants to ask questions is when they have the property manager's undivided attention during a tour. Here are some questions to ask when touring a home to make sure it meets your standards. Call us today at (858) 361-5561 or email us anytime by clicking here. If you can, ask residents about their experiences. Rent is often due on the first of the month, but there may be a clause in the contract offering a grace period of a few days before a late fees kick in. First-time home buyers get plenty of advice about what to do when visiting an open house. Here are five important questions to ask on your next home tour: Source: (Milly Eaton/ Pexels) 1. Questions to Ask about Cost and Budget. → How to write an offer letter for a house Every family has different needs, so what’s most important to you will vary depending on you and your child. Article by Thrift Diving. Always remember to look beyond the pretty picture that’s being painted for you, and dig into the details. Keep reading to find out more. If you turn on a faucet and see orange/brown tinted water, that could be a sign that the water pipes are rusty and need to be replaced. Asking this open-ended question allows your realtor to tell you exactly what the shortfalls are. This is especially important to know if the seller is selling the home “as is”. Use a permanent marker to write your child's name on all supplies that you send to school. However, if you want to make sure that you are buying a house with your head and not just your heart, you should make a list of questions to ask when buying a house. The key is to know what questions to ask. Below, we list some of the main ones. They are usually the result of a hot, dry climate, deferred maintenance or a neighbor’s dog’s relieving himself in your yard. 50 Questions to Ask Your Potential Landlord. 03/04/2014 01:43pm EST | Updated December 6, 2017. Questions to ask at the open house When you arrive at the open house, the first question to ask would be, “Are you the listing agent?” Sometimes a listing agent will send an agency colleague to the open house in their place, so be sure to ask up front. This is pretty straightforward. Created with Sketch. That means that after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, many people are not happy with their choice. There are not permanent parts of the home and shouldn’t determine whether or not you decide to make an offer on the property. If you like everything else about a home, are you willing to pass on it simply because the kitchen doesn’t have a stylish subway tile backsplash or the master bath lacks a waterfall shower head? So how do you ensure you’re making the most of these visits? 1. Older homes often don’t meet the current codes for electrical and plumbing as these are often being updated. As we see video-chat home tours surge in popularity, it’s not always clear what the standard operating procedure should be – especially from the vantage point of your couch. Warm, vibrating wall outlets and/or flickering lights can be indications of issues with the electrical wiring. Unless you’re paying cash, the sticker price of a house is not the actual amount you’ll pay. Created with Sketch. 6 Ways to Totally Snoop the House You Want to Buy House Hunting This checklist gives you carte blanche (well, almost) when viewing potential homes. (Can you see it, smell it, or is there a smell of fresh paint that could be a trick to cover up damp?) If you have kids you will want to ask about the schools in the area. Neglecting the issue can also leave a lawn vulnerable to various pest infestations. Questions to ask when touring apartments. Your real estate agent can make or break your search for a home. Chances are it will be things you never thought of! Not only will you have a bathroom or kitchen that you love, designed to your specifications, but you can also increase your home’s resale value by baking the cost of these upgrades into the listing price should you decide to sell in the future. Depending on the severity of the issue, letting it continue could be hazardous to your health and resolving it could be hazardous to your wallet. 3 Questions to Ask When Touring a Child Care Facility. Created with Sketch. It can be difficult to know what to look for and what to ask on your visit. Learn how we leverage our robust valuation model and local pricing experts to determine your home’s value. Signs of water damage in a home include stains or “bubbling” on walls and ceilings, buckling of baseboards and flooring and pungent smells. Your nose can actually help you uncover certain issues a home may have. Questions to Ask the Landlord Now that you have an idea of what your ideal living situation looks like, make sure you are prepared to work with private landlords and realty agencies. Okay, the first question you need to ask yourself is: How much house can I afford? How long has this home been on the market? You run a million lists through your head all day, every day, but when it comes to what to ask for from a day care center, you're stumped. Removing or replacing tattered wallpaper or stained carpets might require a bit more elbow grease (or even professional assistance), but both are still a fairly simple and low-cost projects that can really transform your new home. Water damage can cause a can wreak havoc on a home. 4. Personal preferences aside, there are some factors you shouldn’t pay too much attention to and some you most definitely should when touring a home. While a grand piano in the lobby and plush drapes are nice features, making a good decision means learning about the community’s quality of operation and care. → Pros and cons of buying a condo or townhome, → How to write an offer letter for a house. Read about the schools you’ll be visiting. Having this information is helpful to ensure that Be aware, however, that not every seller will permit their listing agent to disclose this information as it can scare off prospective buyers. Rather than focusing on wonky ceiling fans and loose cabinet hinges, be on the lookout for signs of issues with the electrical wiring and cooling and heating elements. Opendoor always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation. Most schools conduct regular school tours and open houses during the enrollment season — typically in the fall. Created with Sketch. They could indicate more serious foundational issues or even water damage and can appear anywhere on a wall. → More guides and blog posts about home buying. These questions, plus advice from education expert Judith Judd, will help you choose the right school for your child If touring a single-family home, how close by are neighbors’ homes? Make sure to ask your real estate agent these questions about the place to make sure it's right for you. A warped or “bouncy” floor can be a red flag for a myriad of problems from rotting wood (that could have been caused by flooding) to termites to low-quality construction. The last thing you want to do is move into a house the owners sold because of bad neighbors, rising crime or failing schools. How old are the major appliances in the house, such as the heating and air conditioning systems, water heater, kitchen appliances, etc. Does it fit the description you gave? Unlike a speech that you can memorize, you won't always know what questions people will ask. So you may be looking at pipes that back up, poor insulation in the exterior walls or garage sizes that are much smaller than today’s standard. Integrated fixtures & systems. To weed out the duds from the diamonds, here are 15 questions to ask when buying a house. Unless you’re designing it yourself, the chances of finding a home that matches each and every one of your personal preferences are slim. Finding the right home involves research, so you’ll need to ask the right questions. Key questions to ask. © 2020 The Daniels Group. Before you toss a listing without an enclosed yard; however, check out whether or not the backyard has the potential to be fenced at a later date. You can also do some research yourself and find out about the neighborhood online. Although quite simple at first glance, this question can reveal a lot of useful details. 9, 2020, 12:15 am. Families should tour any proposed communities, ask questions of community staff and interview any proposed senior care providers in order to assist them in making a selection. Maintaining a healthy amount of perspective regarding trivial must haves vs the major ones while viewing a home will go a long way towards making sound decisions about this important financial investment. The bottom line is that there’s no such thing as too many questions to ask when buying a house. How Long Is the Lease Term? Updated on October 9th, 2020. Ask about estimates for repairs and don't make assumptions about the potential costs. Why did you choose this home for me? Before you get too excited about the extra space, you’ll want to make sure that the addition is permitted. Created with Sketch. Touring an assisted living community for the first time may be intimidating and overwhelming. No signs of water damage. Unpermitted construction can be a pain to deal with in more ways than one. So I wanted to write a follow-up with even more questions you must ask before you buy a house! My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Both the agent and the homeowner expect you to want the full picture when touring a home. Sometimes, you need to rely on your other senses when touring a home. Don't forget to ask the important questions when touring a rental property! This is one of the top questions to ask a realtor because it can give you a good idea of how much bargaining power you have. Sometimes, you need to rely on your other senses when touring a home. RentLingo’s Apartment Checklist Knowing what questions to ask when renting an apartment and knowing what to look out for during apartment walkthroughs are some of the most important aspects of the apartment search process and can make or break finding a great new home. Ask about the walk score and how close shopping and main roads are from the home. This gives you the opportunity to check out the issues in person. In addition to being potential a safety concern if not constructed properly, it can also be a financial concern when buying a home. If so, what are my chances of getting it, and how much support can I expect (if any)? Plunkett says: "The tenant can ask the landlord to do this [i.e. Apartment Hunting. So, it can definitely be a bit disappointing to discover that the kitchen or master bath of the home you really like leaves much to be desired. Cigarette and pet smells might seem trivial; however, these odors can cling to the walls and ceiling of a home, especially if the sources were present in the home for an extended period of time. Painting the interior of a home is actually one of the easiest and most affordable upgrades you can make. Today’s senior living communities are as diverse as today’s senior population and offer unprecedented services and amenities. In many areas, you don’t even need a permit to put up a fence; however, it’s still a good idea to check with your HOA or city regarding permit requirements as well as height and setback restrictions. 10 questions to ask when visiting a primary school. However, your agent is used to seeing houses and he or she knows what to look for. You'll also want to find out how heat is provided if you're responsible for paying for it. While there's no shortage of questions you should ask when touring a rental property, many of them may not be as obvious as others. Pick your agent’s brain for the unique qualities that stand out. Other questions to ask private schools. 20 key questions for your daycare tours. Though these things might not be particularly pleasing to the eye, they also aren’t permanent. Mold and mildew are two problems that can you can actually detect by smell. If you have kids you will want to ask about the schools in the area. 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