When you're considering the purchase of an existing home, it's very easy to
become blinded by your desire to close the deal on your dream house. The
drive-up appeal is there, the layout is just what you wanted, and there's a
nice, big backyard for the kids. Because you want to make this work so
badly, you fail to notice (either consciously or unconsciously) the cracks
on the walls, the rotting floorboards in the living room, that musty smell
lingering through the halls.
To protect yourself and your investment, you'll want to make sure that you
have a professional home inspection of the property before you even give a
minute's consideration to buying any house. But you can conduct your own
investigation as a prospective homeowner, as well. An informal "chat" with
the current owners can be even more valuable than a professional
inspection. Why? Nothing beats face-to-face conversation. Granted, the
current owners want to sell. But if they want to sell badly enough, they'll
respond openly and honestly to your questions, and they'll be willing to
resolve any issues or conduct any repairs that stand in the way of your
closing the deal.
So what should you ask the current owners? The following questions will
provide you with a good start. And just like any journalist conducting an
interview, as you proceed with your questions, you'll often think of other
points you want to cover. These questions are merely a guideline; feel free
to jump off the course occasionally. Whenever possible, ask your questions
in "open-ended" style. "Yes" or "no" questions are too easy for the
respondent, and they don't help you as a prospective owner. And as you
listen to the owner's responses, don't interrupt. Let silence creep in
occasionally. Your silence tends to lead to the owner's volunteering more
information.
Start with the following questions:
Does the home have any structural damage, including rotting floor boards,
cracks in the foundation, walls or basement floor?
If the home has a basement, has the owner experienced any problems with
moisture creeping inside the basement? This is a pricey repair, so make
sure you ask.
Has the owner experienced any problems, either recently or in the past,
with a leaky roof? If the roof has leaked in the past, did the owner have
the roof repaired or completely replaced? How long ago was the roof
replaced? (A professional home inspector, of course, can help validate the
owner's answer.) Even if the roof hasn't leaked in the past, you'll want to
ask the owner how old the roof is. Most shingle rooftops (typically made of
asphalt or fiberglass) have an average lifespan of 18 years. If the roof is
approaching that birthday, you're looking at a tremendous expense to
replace it.
Has the owner ever had problems with termites? The vast majority of
existing homes sold in the United States have been inspected for termites
prior to the sale, but knowing if the home has a history of termite
infestation will be of help to the professional inspector and you.
Was the home built before 1978? Before 1960? Homebuilders routinely used
lead-based paint in homes constructed prior to 1960, and although the
practice had decreased in frequency by 1978, lead-based paint was still
used to cover the walls of some homes constructed during the 1970s. Ask if
the home has been tested for the presence of lead paint. If the owner has
resided there for many years, a test probably hasn't been performed, and
the owner may not have ever considered the answer to your question.
Lead-based paint should be a particular concern if you have young children.
If the paint begins to peel off the walls and children ingest it, you'll be
tempting fate needlessly.
And while we're on the subject of dangerous substances, ask the owner if
his or her home has ever been tested for radon. Consult both your
professional home inspector and the local chapter of the Environmental
Protection Agency about requirements for radon in your new hometown, and
whether local residents have experienced high radon levels on average.
Are the air conditioning and heating systems in good condition? How
recently were they replaced? You don't want to move in to your new home
during the heat of the summer only to be greeted with a rattling air
conditioner.
Has the owner ever conducted any home improvements? Was it a
do-it-yourself job, or did a professional contractor perform the work? If a
professional did the job, find out the name of the company and then check
its credentials. Was the owner satisfied with the quality of the work
provided by the contractor?
In an accompanying story, we'll talk about the warning signs you can look
out for as you walk around what could become -- or perhaps should not
become -- your next home.
Published: March 29, 2000
Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
Courtney Ronan is a freelance writer who contributes a weekly column profiling various communities. She also writes a weekly review of real estate related web sites. Courtney's career in journalism has included recent stints as managing editor of Agent News and as associate editor of Texas Business magazine.
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