Buying a home - what questions to ask?

tulipz

Dear all,
We are likely to have a second viewing of a property today. We are keen on putting an offer after it. Though the property looks good, we are not sure of what signs we should be looking for....its a 1930's 3 bed semi detached property. I am putting down a list of questions to ask. Appreciate your inputs..

1. How old is the boiler?
2. How old is the roof?
3. Are there any known leaks anywhere?
4. Is the planning permission in place for the extension? (it was done a few yrs ago)

???

Thx
Tulipz

poppysarah

look on the planning website at the council and you should be able to find info on what work they have had done. building control list should have boiler info on it too.

Look at all the ceilings in rooms. Don't rely on ANYTHING a vendor tells you unless it's written in blood on parchment taken from a 17th century pirate ship....

Look at the roof from the outside. Has work been done?

Do you know the council tax banding? Is it up for appeal? (VOA by postcode to find it)

What are they leaving kitchen wise.

Ask about the neighbours. Ask why they're leaving. (Do answers match with previous times?)

Go past on a friday night to check what the noise on the street is like.

Jeffrey_Shaw

tulipz wrote: »

Dear all,
We are likely to have a second viewing of a property today. We are keen on putting an offer after it. Though the property looks good, we are not sure of what signs we should be looking for....its a 1930's 3 bed semi detached property. I am putting down a list of questions to ask. Appreciate your inputs..

1. How old is the boiler?
2. How old is the roof?
3. Are there any known leaks anywhere?
4. Is the planning permission in place for the extension? (it was done a few yrs ago)

But all of these (and more) are covered by:
a. V's replies to Enquiries before Contract or 'TA' forms; and/or
b. the HomeBuyers Report that you will be commissioning- won't you?

tulipz

poppysarah wrote: »

Look at all the ceilings in rooms. Don't rely on ANYTHING a vendor tells you unless it's written in blood on parchment taken from a 17th century pirate ship....

what to look for on the ceiling? Dampness etc? Its been raining since last night here!

poppysarah wrote: »

Look at the roof from the outside. Has work been done?

Again, a tough one! what to look for?

Apologies, I am a completely naive first time buyer...I am reading up to improve my knowlege on things though!

tulipz

poppysarah wrote: »

Ask about the neighbours. Ask why they're leaving. (Do answers match with previous times?)

The vendors have been living in the property for over 30yrs...they raised their children there...since they arent getting any younger, they want to buy a bungalow and enjoy it before they get too old for it... Sounds fair...will ask again today!

poppysarah

tulipz wrote: »

The vendors have been living in the property for over 30yrs...they raised their children there...since they arent getting any younger, they want to buy a bungalow and enjoy it before they get too old for it... Sounds fair...will ask again today!

If you reckon they're not fibbing then don't ask again (unless you're as nosey as me and ask how far along with their purchase they've got)


They should know the neighbours names. Ask. If they don't then it either says something about them or the neighbours or maybe both.



roof - new tiles will be obvious. Stand on kerb opposite to look at front (do it on way to view perhaps) and stand at back of garden.

Do the gutters hang right? Are there any water marks running down walls etc.

Ceilings should be even and not discoloured in patches! It might be from old leaks though - but note any issues and flag them up to your surveyor to check out.
(He should find them anyway)

Also you can ask when they plan on moving - to give you an idea of how long things might take for their forward purchase to happen.

kiwi_fruit

I printed out this page http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/BuyingYourHome/DG_4018088 when we went to view. Although surprisingly it doesn't mention one of the most important things- "Has there been any occurrence of flooding?"

poppysarah

kiwi_fruit wrote: »

Although surprisingly it doesn't mention one of the most important things- "Any risk of flooding?"

There are lots of potential hazards you might want to ask in writing... or get proper reports done.
Some vendors might not quite be as honest as you like.

You can look on the EA site about flooding anyway... or ask neighbours.

tulipz

poppysarah wrote: »

look on the planning website at the council and you should be able to find info on what work they have had done. building control list should have boiler info on it too.

I just looked up on the planning website and cant find an entry for this property!! I clearly remember the vendor telling me where the kitchen was previously and where they extended it now... they built an additional bedroom over the extended kitchen...will ask when I meet them again!

Jeffrey_Shaw

Most planning law dates from 1947 or later. The absence of entries may just show that nothing much was done later.