Are you looking to buy a house in New Jersey? Buying a house is usually one of the biggest investments that you will be making, and it is probable that you spent a lot of energy and time on finding the ideal house. When you are finally prepared to purchase a house, it is highly likely that you will understand many aspects of the house. Nevertheless, it is still good and beneficial for you to make more inquiries about the house as it will help dispel any lingering doubts that you may have.
How can you understand more about the house? You can speak to the seller’s agent, the seller or even conduct an online research on the public records of the house. Here are some key points that you should ask the home seller:
What is the Reason for Selling your House?
There is a plethora of reasons why people sell and move to a new location, such as wanting to stay in a smaller house, job transfer, retirement, and major life events. Asking for the reason why the seller is moving can be beneficial in deciding if the seller is open to negotiations in terms of pricing. If the seller is in a hurry to move due to reasons such as a job transfer, she or he may be agreeable to a lower offer.
Are there Issues in the Neighborhood or Difficult Neighbors?
There may be certain issues in the neighborhood that may affect the seller’s decision to move away from their current location. This includes high levels of noise pollution and crime, frequent traffic jams, poor maintenance of facilities and difficult neighbors. While it is unlikely that you will get an elaborate or even accurate answer from the seller, it is still better to check for any potential issues before confirming the purchase of a new house. Other than asking the seller, there are other courses of action that you can take to find out more about any potential issues. For instance, you can drop in on the local police station to ask about the crime rates in the neighborhood, drive by and observe the neighborhood at different timings of the day and do some research online to find out about the neighborhood.
When was the House Placed on the Market?
A particularly important reason that a house is up on the market for a long period of time is that the house was appraised at a high price due to bad planning. The marketability of the house drops as the length of time the house is up on the market increases. This is because it is thought that these houses may have certain grave issues, leading to difficulties in selling the property. Therefore, if the house has been placed on the market for an extended period of time, the seller may be more willing to sell it at a lower price through negotiations.
One of the important steps in buying a house is to find out the house’s dimensions and amenities stated on the website and in person. However, it is also crucial to chat and find out more information from the seller as they have may certain first-hand information that are not stated online. If you face problems in contacting the seller, you can always seek help from your real estate agent.
