Questions to ask vendors before we put in an offer

riverboat2001

So, having read the "wish i'd known before i bought thread"

Are these sensible questions, or are they going too far (especially the one about children)?

How old is the boiler, and is there any written proof of when it was last serviced, or installed.

How old is the electic wiring, and is there any written certification for it.

Have there been or are there any disputes with the neighbours?

Do the immediate neighbours make excessive noise?

Are there any children living in the adjoining properties, if so how many and approximate age?

Does anybody else have access rights to the property.


Does anybody have any views on this? or suggestions?
We are hoping to use the answers to knock the price down, but also to give us a better idea of what we might be getting ourselves into!

G_M

Most of this is covered by standard Enquries before Contract. If you use a solicitor (s)he will ask these and many more.

riverboat2001

Well, i was hoping to do some groundwork first, as the answers to these questions would help to decided future costs. A new boiler and rewiring will add to the costs. I work shifts and sleep nights, so i want somewhere quiet.

It would seem sensible to sort these thing out before i spend money on surveys and solicitors ect

Plans_all_plans

I asked all those questions before offering, so yes I would go ahead and ask them.

I wouldn't ask the question about children as you have phrased it though, as people might think it's weird to enquire about people's children outright. I would ask "who are the neighbours and what are they like?" and they are likely to tell you if there is a family next door.

In fact, when we looked round one (empty) house, I knocked on at the neighbours to see what they were like for myself (I decided I didn't like the family set up next door so didn't offer on the house, in case you were wondering!)

riverboat2001

G_M wrote: »

Most of this is covered by standard Enquries before Contract. If you use a solicitor (s)he will ask these and many more.

But surely you make the offer before the solicitors get involved, and therefore, how can you make an offer if you don't know what work might need doing which would affect the purchase price?

olly300

riverboat2001 wrote: »

Does anybody have any views on this? or suggestions?
We are hoping to use the answers to knock the price down, but also to give us a better idea of what we might be getting ourselves into!

If you make general chit chat with people when going into each room and the garden, instead of just coming out with the questions you are:
1. More likely to get your questions answered
2. More likely to find out more information
3. More likely to be introduced to the neighbours

If you aren't good at general chitchat take someone along with you who is.

riverboat2001

To be honest i felt a little bit like they were looking down on us, and the EA is very unhelpful, and just stands around like a spare part!
I'm about to go away for almost three weeks, and would like to be able to cogitate, and debate house price with hubby!

Would it be wrong to drop the sellers a letter though asking them to call me, so we could ask all these questions?
Or should everything be done through the estate agents?

I am not emotionally attached to the property, but it does have all the right access and parking that is my top priority, and i would be prepared to pay a good price for it, BUT i need to allow for any work that might need doing. And as i said as a night shift worker sleep is also a very high priority!

It only has a downstairs shower room, so we are already going to lose a bedroom upstairs by converting a single bedroom into a bathroom, so i don't really need any unexpected costs.

The house is up for £265, so i am assuming i could get it for £250

jw2003

We had a viewing this evening and covered most of those questions

If they are important to you then maybe you could arrange another viewing and ask while you're there - maybe when standing in a room with a shared wall, or in the garden where I would say it's a pretty natural progression of conversation

riverboat2001

well, this is the thing, because we are going away, we would be out of the loop.
Perhaps a cheeky offer as a tester, to show interest, because we really are interested in the property, but can't help being way!

timmyt

always ask about the neighbours, it is amazing that some byers are dozy enough not to

warehouse

Always ask about neighbours, even consider going up and down a few doors and knocking then asking about neighbours. Ask if there are any dogs within a few doors either way. Ask if any complaints have ever been made. Ask if anyone within a few doors plays an instrument regularly.

One big tip, if any of the immediate neighbours has an overgrown or rubbish laden garden, be aware of problems with them. Trust me!