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6 Questions You Should Ask a Previous Homeowner

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions in an adult’s life, so it’s important to make sure you know as much as you can about the property you’re about to buy. Georgia’s laws require sellers to disclose important known defects in the home, but as a buyer, you should try to obtain additional information by communicating through the agents.

Here are some important questions you need to ask:

  1. Why are you selling the home?
    Try to determine the seller’s motive, which can give you an advantage at the negotiation table. People sell homes for various reasons: relocating for a new job, upgrading to a bigger home for a growing family, retirement, etc. Knowing whether the seller is eager to move out as soon as possible or if they are selling the house due to other issues can give you ammunition during negotiations.
  2. How’s the neighborhood?
    The desirability of a neighborhood can be affected by numerous factors like traffic congestion, litter, bright lights, location, and neighborhood amenities. Demand for a good neighborhood can raise the price of a property but the same goes for the inverse; it’s good to know if the neighborhood you move into is worth the price tag.
  3. Have the sellers encountered problems before?
    Beyond required disclosures and any issues discovered during inspection, ask about other problems like property-line disputes, natural hazards like flooding, or termites in the area.
  4. How old is it?
    Knowing the home’s age and the age of any updates can help you determine whether you’re going to need to do maintenance repairs (or negotiate a home warranty). For example, garage doors usually need to be replaced after 10 years as parts like the torsion spring have a lifespan.
  5. Where is it and how does it work?
    The devil is in the details, so find out more about the smaller things like when to take the trash out, how to operate the sprinkler system, where the breaker box and utility meters are, etc.
  6. What do you like most about your home?
    This question might seem like it doesn’t belong with the rest, but it could help you learn more about the positives of the home and help you make your final decision. You might find out positive aspects about the property, the neighborhood, or the community.

Discover more tips that will help you to find the best deal before moving to Atlanta. Ask an expert, Natalie Gregory, about buying homes for sale in Atlanta and call 404-550-5113 or email [email protected] today.

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