- USDT(TRC-20)
- $0.0
Buying a house is a stressful, expensive projectâsomething most people understand. That's why they do their diligence. The research the property and the area, they hire a home inspector, they pay a lot of money for title insurance, and they ask questions. Lots and lots of questions.
Most of those questions are common sense, concerning the history of the house, the age and condition of the roof or the HVAC system, and the neighborhood. But there are some not-so-common questions that are also worth asking. These eight questions might seem a bit random, but they can alert you to big problems before you sign your life away.
A lot of people use their homes for their livelihood. If that means a home office for telecommuting, itâs nothing to worry about. But if the previous owner ran any kind of physical business out of the house, you need to know, because it could impact your enjoyment of the property in a few ways:
This might seem like a crazy question to ask, but if the house youâre considering buying is located at an intersection, at the bottom of a hill, or around a blind corner, it's worth asking if itâs been hit by carsâand if so, how often. Homes being hit by cars isnât common, but if the house has been hit once, thereâs a good chance the conditions that caused the accident still exist, and it could be hit again.
For example, this house in San Jose has been hit 23 times in 50 years. This house in Ohio has been hit three times (plus one near-miss). And this house in North Carolina was hit by cars six times over the course of a decade. The worst time to find out that a nearby highway exit ramp or dangerous curve slings cars into your home on a regular basis is after youâve bought it.
Most of the time you can safely assume that what you see in and around the house will be yours once the checks clear and the deed is transferred. That usually includes the outdoor spaces, like a backyard, the appliances, and, say, the finished basement. But you should never assume, because sometimes what you see is not at all what you get.
This couple in Washington and bought a house only to discover that the back yardâstarting at their back stepsâwas actually a separate lot. They only learned this when the lot was put up for auction, and they found themselves desperately trying to buy their own backyard. And if you want the appliances in the kitchen or laundry room, you should make sure their inclusion is specified in the contract, or you might be in for a few extra expenses when you move in to find the fridge missing.
Thereâs even a story about a seller who literally removed an entire finished basement from the house, leveraging the fact that below-grade areas are usually not considered part of the living space. You might not need to worry about the basement in your dream home, but it underscores the wisdom of making sure you know everything that is included in the sale.
Older homes often donât have enough power outlets. They were often designed and constructed in a different era, when people didnât have TVs in their bedrooms or a dozen gadgets charging at all times. One of the easiest upgrades people put into older homes is additional outlets, often as part of an overall upgrade to the electrical wiring.
But an unscrupulous homeowner might add nonfunctional outlets to give the appearance of such an upgrade, leaving it to you to actually connect them. Or, maybe the house has old wiring that only looks like it was upgraded and modernized. Either way, asking if the outlets all actually workâor, better yet, testing them with a volt meter yourselfâis a good idea.
If youâre buying an older home, itâs often a good idea to ask if itâs located in a historic district or designated a historic building, and if there are any restrictions that come along with that designation. Homes that are considered historic in some way often come with limitations to the kind of renovations you can do without explicit approval, and may come with extra expenses or responsibilities.
Youâd assume something like that would be disclosed before the sale, and it usually is if itâs the house itself that has officially been deemed historic. But if you move into an area considered historic, you might be subject to rules regarding how you can alter or update a home that haven't been previously disclosed to you, just like this unlucky homeowner. If your new house has old charm, itâs worth asking, or checking directly with the local government.
If youâre touring a house that obviously hasnât had a major renovation in a while, you might be okay as long as the bones are good and you have a vision (and a budget) for renovations. But if you head down to the basement and discover a brand-new, just-finished renovation itâs time to ask one question: Was there a flood? While many homeowners tackle their home renovations in stages, if only the below-grade areas of the house that have been updated, itâs time to worry about significant water damage thatâs been erased or hidden. If the basement flooded once, it will likely flood againâso you need to know why it was singled out for a rehab.
Old houses sometimes have ancient oil tanks buried underground. If a house had oil heat in the past, burying the tank hid it from viewâno one wants an ugly, rusting tank sitting in their backyard. And if the tank was properly decommissionedâdrained, filled with foam, and cappedâitâs nothing to worry (at least until you decide to dig up the yard).
But if the tank wasnât decommissioned, it could be a huge problem. If it leaks, your health could be impacted, and if the leak spreads and poisons your neighborsâ property, youâll be liable. And removing a tank can be expensiveâaround $10,000 if youâve got an environmental disaster on your hands. Best to ask about it before you assume that responsibility.
Trees are terrific, and offer a lot of benefits to a property. But trees can become a real hazard if theyâre not cared for properlyâthey can fall and damage the house, become a home for insects and rodents that infiltrate the house, and can cause conflict between you and your neighbors. Taking care of trees can be expensive, so many homeowners prefer to just enjoy the shade and assume that nature will take care of itself.
It pays to ask about the trees on your potential propertyâhow often were they pruned and trimmed? Has an arborist inspected the trees for diseases, infestations, or damage? If the trees are old and havenât been properly cared for, you might be buying a lot of work and problems instead of a beautiful, shady yard.
Full story here:
Most of those questions are common sense, concerning the history of the house, the age and condition of the roof or the HVAC system, and the neighborhood. But there are some not-so-common questions that are also worth asking. These eight questions might seem a bit random, but they can alert you to big problems before you sign your life away.
Was the home ever used as a business?
A lot of people use their homes for their livelihood. If that means a home office for telecommuting, itâs nothing to worry about. But if the previous owner ran any kind of physical business out of the house, you need to know, because it could impact your enjoyment of the property in a few ways:
Old customers might show up unannounced, unaware that the house has been sold, as happened to this unhappy new homeowner. This could potentially include folks who are upset with their experience with the business, or to whom the business owes money.
Shipments, bills, and other deliveries or correspondence might continue to arrive, forcing you to deal with someone elseâs businessâespecially if the previous owner demands that you forward materials and mail to them.
Has the house ever been hit by a car?
This might seem like a crazy question to ask, but if the house youâre considering buying is located at an intersection, at the bottom of a hill, or around a blind corner, it's worth asking if itâs been hit by carsâand if so, how often. Homes being hit by cars isnât common, but if the house has been hit once, thereâs a good chance the conditions that caused the accident still exist, and it could be hit again.
For example, this house in San Jose has been hit 23 times in 50 years. This house in Ohio has been hit three times (plus one near-miss). And this house in North Carolina was hit by cars six times over the course of a decade. The worst time to find out that a nearby highway exit ramp or dangerous curve slings cars into your home on a regular basis is after youâve bought it.
What exactly will I own?
Most of the time you can safely assume that what you see in and around the house will be yours once the checks clear and the deed is transferred. That usually includes the outdoor spaces, like a backyard, the appliances, and, say, the finished basement. But you should never assume, because sometimes what you see is not at all what you get.
This couple in Washington and bought a house only to discover that the back yardâstarting at their back stepsâwas actually a separate lot. They only learned this when the lot was put up for auction, and they found themselves desperately trying to buy their own backyard. And if you want the appliances in the kitchen or laundry room, you should make sure their inclusion is specified in the contract, or you might be in for a few extra expenses when you move in to find the fridge missing.
Thereâs even a story about a seller who literally removed an entire finished basement from the house, leveraging the fact that below-grade areas are usually not considered part of the living space. You might not need to worry about the basement in your dream home, but it underscores the wisdom of making sure you know everything that is included in the sale.
Do all the outlets work?
Older homes often donât have enough power outlets. They were often designed and constructed in a different era, when people didnât have TVs in their bedrooms or a dozen gadgets charging at all times. One of the easiest upgrades people put into older homes is additional outlets, often as part of an overall upgrade to the electrical wiring.
But an unscrupulous homeowner might add nonfunctional outlets to give the appearance of such an upgrade, leaving it to you to actually connect them. Or, maybe the house has old wiring that only looks like it was upgraded and modernized. Either way, asking if the outlets all actually workâor, better yet, testing them with a volt meter yourselfâis a good idea.
Is it considered historic?
If youâre buying an older home, itâs often a good idea to ask if itâs located in a historic district or designated a historic building, and if there are any restrictions that come along with that designation. Homes that are considered historic in some way often come with limitations to the kind of renovations you can do without explicit approval, and may come with extra expenses or responsibilities.
Youâd assume something like that would be disclosed before the sale, and it usually is if itâs the house itself that has officially been deemed historic. But if you move into an area considered historic, you might be subject to rules regarding how you can alter or update a home that haven't been previously disclosed to you, just like this unlucky homeowner. If your new house has old charm, itâs worth asking, or checking directly with the local government.
Why exactly was the basement renovated?
If youâre touring a house that obviously hasnât had a major renovation in a while, you might be okay as long as the bones are good and you have a vision (and a budget) for renovations. But if you head down to the basement and discover a brand-new, just-finished renovation itâs time to ask one question: Was there a flood? While many homeowners tackle their home renovations in stages, if only the below-grade areas of the house that have been updated, itâs time to worry about significant water damage thatâs been erased or hidden. If the basement flooded once, it will likely flood againâso you need to know why it was singled out for a rehab.
Is there a buried tank on the premises?
Old houses sometimes have ancient oil tanks buried underground. If a house had oil heat in the past, burying the tank hid it from viewâno one wants an ugly, rusting tank sitting in their backyard. And if the tank was properly decommissionedâdrained, filled with foam, and cappedâitâs nothing to worry (at least until you decide to dig up the yard).
But if the tank wasnât decommissioned, it could be a huge problem. If it leaks, your health could be impacted, and if the leak spreads and poisons your neighborsâ property, youâll be liable. And removing a tank can be expensiveâaround $10,000 if youâve got an environmental disaster on your hands. Best to ask about it before you assume that responsibility.
How are those trees doing?
Trees are terrific, and offer a lot of benefits to a property. But trees can become a real hazard if theyâre not cared for properlyâthey can fall and damage the house, become a home for insects and rodents that infiltrate the house, and can cause conflict between you and your neighbors. Taking care of trees can be expensive, so many homeowners prefer to just enjoy the shade and assume that nature will take care of itself.
It pays to ask about the trees on your potential propertyâhow often were they pruned and trimmed? Has an arborist inspected the trees for diseases, infestations, or damage? If the trees are old and havenât been properly cared for, you might be buying a lot of work and problems instead of a beautiful, shady yard.
Full story here:
![[DK]](/data/avatars/s/57/57999.jpg?1720990206){kind=avatar}
