If you’re in the market to buy a new home, you’ll know just how complicated and in-depth the entire process can be.
With so many steps to undertake to ensure that your new home is perfect for you and the contract signing process goes smoothly, it always pays to ask your real estate agent some pre-determined questions that will ensure that you’re well informed and up to date on all the important aspects of the transaction.
Take a look here at our top questions we think that you should always ask a real estate agent during the buying process.
1. How long has the property been on the market?
The length of time that a property on the market can tell you a lot about it.
If it has been on the market for an extended period of time, it could potentially be priced incorrectly or there may be something wrong with it that isn’t obvious at first.
Most homes in Australia will sell within one month of being on the market, so it’s worth enquiring why if it’s been up for sale much longer than that.
2. Are there any known issues with the property or land?
While they may not always be apparent at first glance, any significant issues with the property can seriously affect the value and even the safety of the property.
Ask upfront about any known issues that could affect your decision to purchase the property and always be sure to have a building and pest inspection conducted before finalising any contracts of sale.
3. Why is the vendor selling?
Often, asking why a vendor is selling will not only tell you a lot about a property, but can also assist in the negotiations.
If, for example, the sellers have already bought a new property, they may be more motivated to sell and could drop their asking price. The agent will be representing the vendor’s interests, but a less skilled agent (not from Nelson Bay Real Estate!) might reveal very useful information.
Information is key and can help you when it comes to contracts, choosing settlement dates and price negotiations.
4. Can you provide some recent comparable sales?
This type of list is going to tell you a lot about homes in the area that are sold for a similar price. Such a list will not only help you validate the price they are asking for and provide you with confidence in terms of value, but it can also show that the price they are asking for is unrealistic. There are lots of online portals that provide this information too.
This can often be the difference between having the confidence and signing your contract or walking away from the deal if they want more than it is worth.
5. What are the neighbours like?
While this may not seem like an obvious question to ask, knowing what the neighbours are like can play a huge part in your decision-making process.
No one wants to live next to unruly or rowdy neighbours, or neighbours that always make complaints.
Neighbours can affect your quality of life, both positively or negatively, so it always pays to know what kind of environment you are potentially moving into if you can.l.
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Asking some well-informed and strategic questions when buying property in Nelson Bay can mean the difference between buying a home you will absolutely love and ending up with a home that is less than ideal compared to what you thought going in.
If you are currently in the process of hunting a property for sale in Nelson Bay, we can help! You can get in touch with us today and our team of professional and experienced local real estate agents in Nelson Bay and Tilligerry will be able to assist you with the properties available in the region.
Do you want to know more how to find or choose the best real estate agent or what can a real estate agent do to help you? Check our blogs to be informed on the latest news of properties in Nelson Bay and be updated of the latest guides from our experts.