S2 Ep7 - Things To Ask When Buying A House2 - a podcast by Brian Cook And Kindra Cox

On Season 2, Episode 7 of The Brian and Kindra Show, they shared that buying or selling a home can be stressful, but it can be especially overwhelming for a first time home buyer.  Brian and Kindra share some good questions to ask during your home search. 

There are a lot of items in the home that may surprise you when it comes to what stays with the property and what goes with the seller.  The contract used by Brian and Kindra and many Realtors in our area includes a list of items considered fixtures of the property.  Often, we generally say ‘anything attached stays’, but that is also confusing as some decorations are attached to the wall and would not stay!! Our contract states the following items would stay: Freestanding stoves, mirrors, window treatments (including curtains, rods, blinds, shades), fireplace equipment, garage door openers and remotes (if any), flag poles, landscaping, and exterior lighting.  TV Mounts should stay with a home, but many sellers desire to take those with them.  Should that be the case, the seller should remove it prior to listing the property and make appropriate repairs to the walls if damaged from the removal.  If you are unsure what stays, make sure you ask your showing realtor to verify with the listing associate regarding questionable items.  Items that may not stay with the home include storage sheds and refrigerators!  If these ‘big ticket items’ are on your wish list, be sure to ask for them in your contract.  

Next up, it is important to fully review the property condition disclosures about a property.  This can still be somewhat confusing as the disclosures ask the seller to note if items are in ‘normal working order’.  Throughout their years in real estate, Brian and Kindra have learned that people tend to have varying degrees of what they consider to be normal.  If there are things on the disclosures that you have questions about, please be sure to ask for additional information.   

Ask about any additions or major reservations. It’s one thing to paint or change light fixtures, but major renovations like knocking down walls, or major additions could have been done. Also ask about the age of the roof.  It would also be a good idea to have your realtor verify if there are any transferable warranties that are included with the property.  This could include appliances, windows, siding, heating and air systems, water heaters etc.

You may also be curious regarding the age of the various systems and appliances in the home.  Certainly ask for all available information.  While some sellers may have limited knowledge of the age of these items, some may have very valuable information of not only the age, but the service records and technicians used for installation, repair or maintenance.  

The bottom line is to not be afraid of asking questions. Brian and Kindra hope these tips have been helpful to you. As always, if you have any questions or need help, please feel free to reach out to your local real estate professional.

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