Questions to ask vendors before we put in an offer

zaksmum

I always used to knock at adjoining properties when we were considering making an offer on a house. I could tell immediately if the potential neighbour could be problematic.

But then of course we do live in an area where - if the adjoining house had not sold - it could very well be rented out to a drug addict or ex (or even current!!) offender with hordes of ASBO kids.

So never assume your neighbours will be the kind you would want to associate with.

dizziblonde

I didn't ask about the neighbours - we're buying three doors down from where we rent! Ended up having a chat with one of them over the garden fence which the estate agent looked most bemused about! We are, however moving in the opposite direction to the family we know are the obnoxious lot on the road, indeed I refused to view the house next to theirs that's up for sale as we know they'd be nightmares to share a wall with.

MaidMarianofNottingham

Don't make an offer until you have the answers to all your questions and especially as you will not be available for next three weeks to negotiate.
TBH, the questions are exactly the kind of questions you should have asked when you viewed.
As a seller, I am more than happy to cover anything a buyer might want to know.
As others have said, can you arrange a quick second viewing before you go away and get the answers you need?

Richard_Webster

Why are they moving? Have they found anything yet to buy?

You don't want to find that you get all involved in buying their place and find that they can't make up their minds about what they want to buy!

Chinkle

These questions are best asked casually when you are looking round, ie asked about the boiler when they show you it, the neighbours when in the garden etc. If you send a long list of questions after the viewing you are showing your hand about how interested you are.

olly300

riverboat2001 wrote: »

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?

Very wrong.

Do another viewing with a older friend or older family member who likes a good talk. Make sure they know what you want to find out before hand.

All you need to do is tell the estate agent and vendor, your dad or old Aunt Blessie, wants to see what you are looking at.

riverboat2001 wrote: »

Or should everything be done through the estate agents?

Definitely not.

Estate agents either make up things they don't know or say they don't know.

riverboat2001 wrote: »

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!

You need to visit the street the property is on and the street behind it, during different times of the day and night on different days before making an offer.

The neighbours both sides may be fine but you may have children from somewhere else who like playing or hanging around on the street. Likewise you could find out the guy 5 doors down behind you does something annoying, which the vendors don't need to tell you about. Or that every Sunday the congregation for the church two streets away park on your road blocking you in.

mlz1413

I ask what businesses are in the area - these may have deliveries during the day, maybe noisey, may employ staff so parking is an issue.

depending on area - does the school holidays / school traffic affect house, parking and commute.

ALWAYS find out if their is a gym in the area as they create dreadful traffic and parking issues! (doubly annoying when they are going to exercise :mad:)