10 Questions You MUST Ask Before You Buy a Home!
Let’s take a step back from decorating and DIY projects for a second….and let’s talk the questions you must ask before buying a house. Be sure to download my FREE home buying workbook in my How to Buy a House in 12 Weeks post. Also, check out the entire 30 questions you must ask before buying a house
It’s been 8 years since we moved into this 4-BR single family house, and if I could have done it all over again, these questions below are the questions I wish someone would have told me to ask before jumping in with 2 feet. Here, I’m sharing these tips with you in hopes of helping other people make better decisions about home buying!
So, for any of you that are home-shopping, or know someone that is buying a home, make sure you ask these 10 questions before you buy a home:
AUDIO: 10 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home
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1. Will the windows need to be replaced?
Did you know that new windows can set you back upwards of $10,000…..$15,000, or more? I know: GASP! How often do you walk into a house and inspect the windows? Windows are boring. If anything, we swoon over the shape of them, the position of them, the scenery outside of them, but rarely do we consider the condition of the windows. But, have you ever had to deal with poor windows? Windows that don’t stay shut? Windows that are so drafty you’ve got to apply ugly plastic over them to keep the cold out? Old windows that have peeling or chipped paint (which may even have lead in them if the house was built before 1973)? Windows are costly and they’re one of the most costly home repairs and upgrades that you’ll ever pay for.
When we moved into this house, the last thing I was paying attention to was the windows. I was thinking about how pretty the house would look with my favorite colors of paint…and how much space we’d have. The last thing I needed to know was if the windows were drafty. We soon found out. And they all needed to be replaced. All 22 of them. Yes, 22. This is not the kind of expense you want to pay when you move into a house. Spend $14,000 on something worthwhile, like–a car–perhaps?? lol. Get a house with solid windows that will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
2. What’s the position and quality of the trees around this house?
In a bad storm, can those trees fall on your new house? Do any of them look rotted? Do any of them need to be cut down? Do those trees block the sunrise? What about the sunset? When we bought this house, it was the winter of 2010. There were no leaves on the trees. Who even notices bare trees in the winter? We sure didn’t. But let me tell you–when those leaves came….they sucked out all the sunlight, making our home feel like a cave.
UPDATE:
We had one of these trees removed at a cost of $1,250! This is what looked like BEFORE. Notice how dark it was, even on the sunniest day?
BEFORE
AFTER
With one tree gone, we now have sunlight! I’m slowly learning to not be so unhappy about our home :).
Related Read: Stop Thinking You Have an Ugly House
TIP: Be cognizant of where trees are in relation to the house you want to buy. Consider the fact that if you want to remove a tree, the cost is usually anywhere from $400 – $1,500 or more to have the stump removed!
DOWNLOAD ALL 30 QUESTIONS
3. Do you see any signs of pests?
Could you imagine buying a house and finding–ICK!–roaches?? Thank God we didn’t have this problem! But you need to be vigilant about pests when you’re looking for a place. Look for mouse turds. Ask the sellers for more information about it. Look inside cabinets and moist places where pests like to hide. Heck–pull the refrigerator or stove out, and make sure there’s nothing there! Thankfully, we didn’t see roaches, but we did find centipedes after moving in. And OH MY GOSH, we were slammed with an infestation of ANTS. Yikes! We had them in nearly every room of the house, and I was having nightmares about them! Thankfully, as the season went on, I was able to get rid of them. But the following year, I had to spring for a pest control plan. We pay about $40 a month now and haven’t had any major problem with ants. But it was still an expense we hadn’t planned on.
4. Are there sidewalks in the neighborhood?
Maybe you were too excited about the awesome house, but somehow, you didn’t even realize that there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Oh–yeah, this happened to us! Because of this, our kids can’t just go outside and ride bikes or scooters; they might get hit by a car! If you’ve got kids, or nieces and nephews that come to visit, get a house with some sidewalks. Even if you have no children, for your own safety when walking or jogging, buy a home in a neighborhood where there are sidewalks. I find that older homes and neighborhoods tend to have no sidewalks.
Here’s a sample shot from another blog post to show you what our street looks like. No sidewalks mean danger for little ones, and even yourself!
(And while you’re here, you might want to check out these interesting things I learned about the home in carpentry class, including the fact that you don’t own 100% of your property. Bet you didn’t know that, huh?)
5. Is the house too out-dated?
No house is going to be perfectly upgraded, especially if it’s a steal in price. But maybe you’re mesmerized by the beauty of the bay window, or the lovely wood floors, or how nice the house could be after you’ve gotten your DIY hands on it. Sometimes a home’s potential is its selling feature, along with the price and the promise of its beauty. But you must take a hard look at how outdated the house really is. How much will it cost to upgrade your new home? How much time will be involved if you attempt some DIY projects yourself? Are you being realistic regarding what you can accomplish, in time and budget? If you have kids, consider if you’ll have enough time away from the kids to get these projects done. Otherwise, you may end up years later with rooms still donning the hideous wallpaper because there just isn’t enough time to get the house “done.”
It took a while for me to turn this old house around, but slowly I’ve been tackling each room. Here are some of the outdated rooms I have been able to complete, but there is still so much more to work on:
My Laundry – BEFORE
It took 30 days, but I was able to turn it around! (Read more about my laundry room makeover).
AFTER!
The same was true of my kids’ bathroom. It took nearly 4 years to finally get around to transforming this room, too! Removing wallpaper was the worse part, along with the totally outdated green toilet. I did the whole room myself!
My Kids’ Bathroom – BEFORE
AFTER!
Completing makeovers like these, though, take time, especially if the whole house is outdated. Just remember this rule of thumb: each room will take about 30 days to transform if you focus on one room at a time. How many months will it take for you to totally transform your new home, in that case? Factor in more time depending on budget, children, etc. How much time are you willing to do it?
Here are some DIY tutorials and posts that will help you to improve your home without having to pay professionals to help you do it:
- How to Remove a Toilet
- How to Install a Toilet Yourself – No Plumber Needed!
- How to Build a DIY Bathroom Vanity From Scratch
- What’s the Best Paint for Furniture?
- How to Paint Garage Floors With 1-Part Epoxy Paint
- How to Put Up Crown Molding Like a Novice
Check out my Project Gallery for more help with doing DIY projects around the home.
6. Does the house have any weird odors?
What do you smell when you walk into the house? If you smell funk, RUN! Run far away. Because, seriously, if the house is funky, it’s either a) mold/mildew (read: water problems), b) dirty people, or c) cooking smells that may take a long time to go away. Don’t just think that you can “air a home out” after settlement. When you walk into a house you’d like to buy, it should smell….well….like NOTHING. There shouldn’t be any odors that try to make the house smell “good.” You should smell very little. Homes that leave an odor means that you will be dealing with the odor when you move in, or it may be covering up other smells you don’t even realize are there until you move in. Sometimes this can be a costly problem to clear up, depending on its cause. This is from experience! When we came to look at our house, it had a rank odor. It was horrible. I thought we would just air the home out. And although the smell dissipated after moving in, our house still has a slightly “old” smell, probably emanating from the basement. It’s slightly stronger in the spring and summer.
Related Read: 10 Best “Must-Have” Home Necessities When You Move Into a House
7. Does the ground slope AWAY from the house?
Does the house sit at the top or bottom of a hill? Where does the water flow around the house? Grading is probably one of the few things people check when they go house-hunting. Don’t make this mistake! Grading that is poor and allows rain and water to sit at the home’s foundation is a recipe for flooding and water damage. Grading isn’t cheap to fix. Expect to pay upwards of $2,500 to have a professional landscaper or grading professional to regrade the entire perimeter of your home. We re-graded our entire perimeter because of water seeping into the basement, and yep–that’s what we paid–$2,290. OUCH. But we couldn’t take the threat of flooding anymore, and it needed to be fixed immediately!
Related Read: Water Leak Detector: How to Ease Your Biggest Fear of Water Leaks
8. What do the cars in the neighborhood look like?
Okay, we’re boarding on something probably unethical, but it’s true. Take a look around you. If you see broken-down cars, expect to find a broken-down neighborhood.The cars don’t have to be BMWs and Audis. But look for late model cars that look well-cared for. The quality of the cars, more so than the brand, that people drive in the neighborhood, really can tell you about the quality of a neighborhood.
9. What are the neighbors like?
Imagine the horror of moving into a house and you end up hating your neighbors. YIKES! Go up and knock on the doors of the nearby neighbors and tell them you’re planning to make an offer on the house next door or across the street. See what they say. Are they nice? Are they gossiping about the other neighbors that are moving out? Do they seem SANE?? What does their yard look like? Be sure to talk to all the neighbors. Do they have something negative to say about certain neighbors? Choose your neighbors wisely!
10. How much are the utilities for that house?
Granted, your usage will be different, depending on your family size and usage. But calling ahead to the utility companies (and even identifying WHICH utilities you will need to pay–gas or electric? both?) will give you a great starting point to use when creating your budget, to make sure you can afford the property and all the things that go into moving into a new or larger home. There are tons of expenses you don’t even realize up front that you’ll need to pay when you move into a new house, but if you can nail down the utilities, you’re one step closer to making a wise decision. NOTE: Some of these things your inspector will look for and note, but that’s AFTER you’ve already put an offer on a house. Why get to that point? Why not note these things beforehand so you’re not wasting money on an inspection for a house that you may end up not buying anyhow? Be wise. Look for the right things, from the beginning :).
BONUS TIP
Did you know that if a waste pipe or water supply pipe breaks on your property, you are fully responsible for it? That’s right. Your homeowner’s insurance and your water company will not pay for the repairs. And these repairs can cost you upwards of $10,000. There is insurance that can cover these repairs if they are needed, but that’s something you have to purchase out of pocket. It’s only $60-$100 per year, but most people have never heard of it. I am enrolled in carpentry classes at my local community college and this is just one of several surprising facts I learned. Read the other 20 surprising things I learned in carpentry class that will help you save money and be safer when doing projects in your new house.
Click here to read PART 2 of this series.
Next time you’re going to check out a house, take along this FREE download that has all 30 questions!
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So do you have any other questions that you think are most important to ask before buying a home? Please leave a comment to let everyone know what else they need to know before buying a house! 🙂
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I’d second the neighbors thing… In fact, meet all of the neighbors! The last thing you want is some super annoying person constantly ringing your doorbell or spying on you. Also, meet the people in charge of the home owners association. If you don’t get along with them, they could make your life a living nightmare. If I accidentally already purchased a house in a neighborhood, I’d rent it.
he he ..my dear old dad was a builder and renovator , he always said just look at whats new , if your moving out you only renovate to hide something
when looking for a new home make sure you have a home inspection done that includes having a plumber come in and send a sewer camera through your sewer pipes to make sure there are not any major breaks in the line.
we just put an offer on a short sale, that while dated and has some repairs and updating that need to be done, its in a neighbourhood that is well outside our price range and with updating will be a fantastic home. its in a cul de sac, so no sidewalks though 🙂
I totally agree with the neighbours thing – very important!
I think the biggest mistake people do when they are looking is they are so excited about the place they don’t think about what its going to be like when they really live there, not their dream version of living there. when we bought our condo i didn’t realize how small the kitchen was because of the open floor plan. the short sale we are buying has a kitchen that seems small because of the c shape but it has tons of storage, and room to expand, so that made a big difference to me.
Leah– Just curious how long your short sale took? We are signing one tonight and i’m IN LOVE with the house… .thank you
Hey there, we submitted our offer in early March, the seller accepted and then it took until May 31 to close, which is relatively short for a short sale- we sold our condo in the meantime and moved in w my parents for 2 months because we did a month of work before we even moved in.
The one really good thing was the sellers realtor was on top of everything- she had done 6 months of legwork prior to it going on the market and was all over the bank as well. Short sales can be worth it but they are also very trying. Good luck to you!
AWESOME!!! We’ll we’re up one already, before we even signed the sellers agreed to the amt we offered. 🙂 🙂 🙂 so now we’re hoping that the bank will be similar.Thank you!
We bought our house in 2008. It was in move-in condition but problems came out one after the other; basement is so cold, some molds showed up the first winter we had and other gross things that are showing up… If we can only turn back the clock we could have been more careful in our decision specially after reading your post 🙂 🙂
Don’t just drive by the house at night–drive by during the day as well. I did a lot of my househunting after 5pm and on weekends, but if you know your house will be empty between 8a-5pm, you want to know what’s going on. Is the neighbor’s house a mecca for school-skipping teenagers? Are they any stay-at-home parents or telecommuters around or is the neighbor deserted? Is there a scuzzy guy with a big, um….”water pipe”…who sits on his porch all day “receiving guests” who “buy medicine” from him (yeah, 4 houses down from me, until the house was foreclosed on.)
Also hang around at different times of the day and different days (if you can.) My house is on a pretty quiet street with sidewalks, but there is a U-Haul rental place 6 blocks away. Somehow, my street is a thoroughfare for people who just rented a truck and want to drive down a residential street way too fast.
LOL! Great advice! Love the blog, thank you everyone! About to buy retirement home and advice is needed and taken.
Funny thing is, we left that home after 2 years due to career change for hubby. But we just moved to a neighboring town. Anyway, we looked at alot of houses, and always asked about water in the basement. And then the realtors would tell us about this disclosure that the sellers had to sign – and then go into this “story” about a couple who bought a house that had major water problems, etc. We’d just say, “Ya, that was US.” So maybe our summer of hell made things better for future home buyers in the area.
The first thing we did was grab the video camera and get all of the damage, the open windows, the mop handle sticking thru an open window, etc. Then of course the water the next morning. We called the company rep first thing in the morning and he was heading to an air show with his family. My husband told him he needed to get to our house ASAP. We were planning to make the tape public. And sue. We did eventually share a copy with the president of the company. The rep did come right away, watched the video, surveyed the damage and promised to make things right. They came back to redo everything and they also paid for us to hire someone of our own choosing to repair/replace everything damaged. We ended up with a nice basement again, and no water after that. BUT,…we never should have had to deal with all of that in the first place. Let’s just say I cried alot that summer. That was about 12 years and 2 houses ago.
Also, the sellers’ realtor was great. (Unlike our realtor who we never heard from again once she got her commission check). He stopped by often to check on things. In the end, there were some bills that came in late, after things were settled with the waterproofing company, and the realtor paid for them out of pocket. We ended up using him when we sold that house, bought the next and then sold it 8-9 years later.
It was quite a nightmare. We wanted to back out of buying, and then our realtor, informed us we had to be out of our house within a couple days. (At some point during the counter/counter offer process she had neglected to tell us she took out the clause that said the sale was contingent on us finding a house of our choice. So we were screwed!) Never used HER again.
Then the waterproofing company sent an inexperienced crew. The 1 1/2 day job took 5. All while my hubby was out of town. They jackhammered about 8 hours a day – while the girls and I were home. (I cried alot.) They jackhammered thru the linoleum covered floors, had ripped off the glued on baseboards, tearing drywall, knocked down a huge section of finished ceiling – yet no one knew how it happened. When my hubby finally got home Friday night and they were still there and it looked like a bomb had gone off, he had a few words for them. Within minutes there were gone. We went down to survey the damage and it was UGLY!! Our beautiful finished basement was just trashed. Plus they left every window open – with rain in the forecast. Oh, and the best part – after it rained, we still had little rivers flowing thru the basement the next morning.
NEVER wanna go there again!! What a nightmare!! So do your homework, people!!
That sounds like a LAWSUIT! Please tell me you sued something? That is horrible!!! When did this happen? And what’s the condition of the basement/water problem now? The even worse problem is that whenever you go to sell that house, you’ll have to disclose all that stuff to the next person! What a way to sock it to you TWICE–once when buying the home and again when SELLING! UGh….Sorry you had to go through that!