When searching for a new property to buy and move in people often forget to ask the real estate agent something important, which may get them really overwhelmed. This is why making a list of questions in advance is an excellent idea for your house hunting preparation. In case you think you will not have time to write down the exact questions to ask, you can at least highlight the basic themes you want to speak with your agent about. This will help you go more easily through the purchasing process and will prevent you from regretting your choice when you have already moved in the new home.
Of course, you should not think that you will learn everything you want to know about the property from the first time. There is always a chance of forgetting something due to the dynamic atmosphere or the need of fast relocation. Sometimes the agent may also not be able to answer you immediately if the house owner has not provided enough information about the certain issues that bother you. Buying a house might be a long and difficult adventure and there is no doubt that the questions are numerous. Yet, you can deal successfully with this tough task if you do your homework and prepare yourself carefully. The following questions are only a few examples of what you should not forget to ask the real estate agent:
Q1:Whether the agency will negotiate with the seller on your behalf or is it only a "one way" agency? You have to know if they will communicate with both parts or will they speak only with you.
Q2:What fee will the real estate agency charge you if everything goes well and respectively – will you be liable to them if something goes wrong and you do not close the deal?
Ask whether you will be able to get your money back if you decide not to buy the property in the last moment. It will be good to ask when the moment for the final decision is, too. If you do not discuss these questions with the agent in advance, you may end up obliged to pay a huge commission to the agency without having bought a new home.
Q3:How will the agent assist you with the inspection of the desired properties? There are two main options when it comes to the inspections of the homes you have targeted:
- An agent from the real estate agency will inspect the property along with you.
- The agency will use a subcontracted agent to visit and inspect the property/properties with you.
Q4:How often can you visit a certain property? It is essential to ask this question in advance, because there are agencies that will answer you "As many times as necessary", but others may say something like "Not more than once or twice". You definitely want to make sure the property that you consider buying is right for you and the best way to do this is to visit it at least a couple of times. If you schedule your visits for different times of the day, you will be able to gain a better idea about what the neighborhood feels like and the property itself. A few inspections will also be very helpful for you to better assess the condition of the property, the potential needs of move-in cleaning, the design of the house, the homeowner’s personality, etc.
Q5:What exactly is included in the offer of the reviewed property? Always ask the agent during an inspection of a property for more details about the offer. You can inspect a house with plenty of furnishings and think that they are part of the offer, but eventually it might turn out that the homeowner wants to keep them all. Don’t forget to ask about who will pay for the move out cleaning as well.
Q5:Whether you or the agency will schedule the dates for the first property care services after the closing of the deal? Talk with your agent about who will be in charge of booking the pest control, move-in cleaning, de-cluttering and all the other complimentary services that might be needed. It is important to know in advance what happens after buying the property. This will give you time to schedule the search for a cleaning or removal company, instead of hurrying in the last moment. Or else, the real estate agency may recommend you some companies to hire for all these complimentary services and perhaps help you take advantage of some discounts.
Q7:Who will have to deal with the paperwork and documentation required? One of the greatest advantages when hiring a real estate agency is that they take care for the overwhelming paperwork. Nevertheless, be sure to ask about these details in advance as well, otherwise you may end up preparing all the papers by yourself.
Q8: What will happen after you agree to purchase the property and when will they hand you the key? Ask for exact information about who will give you the key to the property (the former homeowner or the agent) and at what stage of the buying process that will happen.
Always you could ask a professional & friendly FREE advice.