You don’t want to buy a LEMON. As a home buyer, make sure you always ask these FOUR questions before pulling the trigger! Buying a home can be one of the most important purchases you make in your lifetime. It can be one of the most exciting as well. So as a homebuyer, what important questions should you ask when considering purchasing?
Hi, I’m Tanja Odzak, Our East Bay Home brokered by eXp Realty… and I sell homes in the East Bay on both sides of the tunnel.
As a homebuyer, you will want to ask a few key questions from the seller before you purchase to be sure you are making the right decisions with your investment. Finding the right home involves a little research when you’re buying to be sure you are making a competitive offer and one that meets your needs. Asking these questions will help.
#1 – Why is the seller moving? Knowing why a seller is moving can put you in a better-negotiating position. Finding out as much information as possible about the seller’s move can allow you to gauge how flexible the seller may or may not be during negotiations. A motivated seller who needs to move more quickly due to a job location or major life event may be willing to negotiate more favorably.
#2 – What is included in the sale? As a buyer, you might be eyeing the beautiful stainless steel refrigerator in the kitchen, but is that included in the sale? Anything considered a fixture is usually included; however, there could be items that you may think are included but actually aren’t. It is essential to include the items you want in your offer initially. You want to make sure the seller is willing to part with the items you are requesting as a part of the sale and that there aren’t any surprises later.
#3 Have any major renovations been done to the property? In California, Sellers are required to disclose what has been done to the property, but it still is always wise as a buyer to find out what significant renovations or upgrades have been done to the home. Knowing the home’s improvement history will help you understand its overall condition and why the seller priced the home the way they did. It may also be a good idea to ask for warranties and invoices.
#4- How is the neighborhood? As a buyer, you most likely will want to get a feel for the neighborhood. Items can be replaced or fixed in a home, but neighborhoods are here to stay. It’s best to do your homework, ask questions, and research to find out what the nearby schools, amenities, traffic, and crime statistics are like. Spend time there! Hang out on an evening or weekend and see what its like!
Of course, hiring a trusted real estate professional to help navigate you through getting all the property information you need and seller’s questions answered is key. Give us a call so we can help with all your important questions and decisions as a homebuyer.
And if you’re thinking about selling, ask me about my tiered home selling plans where you get to pick which real estate services you want and the fee you pay… Most of the them offering my super duper digital marketing that… no one else does in our area. I’m Tanja and I sell houses. I offer simplified and transparent choices!
I’m a Top Producing Realtor® in the OAKLAND / BERKELEY / EAST BAY AREA. I’ve been in the San Francisco East Bay Area since I came up to do my undergrad at UC Berkeley (a long time ago!), with a short stint at UC Davis while getting my Master’s. I take my duties as a Realtor® and Fiduciary very seriously, I enjoy educating my sellers and buyers along the way. Putting People, Before Profit.
Why not check out one of my no-obligation, online, On-Demand, virtual Real Estate Seminars?
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