Eight Questions No One Thinks to Ask Before Buying a Home

Buying a home is a stressful and expensive project, and most people understand that. That’s why they make every effort. They research the property and area, hire a home inspector , pay a lot of money for title insurance, and ask questions . Many , many questions .

Most of these questions are common sense questions that relate to the history of the home, the age and condition of the roof or HVAC system, and the neighborhood. But there are also less common questions that are worth asking. These eight questions may seem a little random, but they can alert you to serious problems before you take your own life.

Has the home ever been used as a business?

Many people use their homes for their livelihood. If that means a home office for remote work, then there’s no need to worry. But if the previous owner ran any kind of physical business outside the home, you need to know about it because it could affect your enjoyment of the property in several ways:

• Old clients may show up unannounced, unaware that the house has sold, as happened to this unfortunate new homeowner . This could potentially include people who are unhappy with their experience with the business or who are owed money by the business.

• Parcels, bills and other deliveries or correspondence may continue to arrive, forcing you to take over someone else’s business, especially if the previous owner requires you to forward and mail materials to him.

Has your house ever been hit by a car?

This may seem like a crazy question, but if the home you’re thinking of buying is located on an intersection, at the bottom of a hill, or around a blind corner, it’s worth asking whether it’s been hit by cars—and if so, how often. Home collisions are not common, but if a home has been hit once, there is a good chance that 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 Ohio home has been hit three times (plus one near miss). And this house in North Carolina has been hit by cars six times in a decade . The worst time to find out that a nearby highway exit or dangerous curve is regularly cutting into your home is after you’ve bought it.

What exactly will I own?

In most cases, you can safely assume that everything you see in and around the home will be yours once the checks clear and the deed is transferred. This typically includes outdoor spaces such as the backyard, appliances, and, say, a finished basement . But you should never assume because sometimes what you see is not what you get.

This Washington couple bought a house only to discover that the backyard, starting with their porch, was actually a separate lot. They only found out when the item went up for auction and were desperate to buy their own backyard. And if you want appliances in the kitchen or laundry room, you’ll want to make sure their inclusion is specified in the contract , otherwise you’ll be faced with some extra costs when you move in and discover the refrigerator is missing.

There’s even a story about a seller who literally removed an entire finished basement from a home , taking advantage of the fact that lower areas are not typically considered part of the living space. You may not have to worry about the basement in your dream home, but this highlights the wisdom of knowing everything that’s included in the sale.

Are all points working?

Older houses often lack electrical outlets. They were often designed and built in a different era, when people didn’t have TVs in their bedrooms or constantly charging gadgets. One of the simplest upgrades people make to older homes is adding additional outlets, often as part of an overall wiring upgrade.

But an unscrupulous homeowner might add non-functional outlets to give the appearance of such an upgrade, leaving you free to plug them in. Or maybe the house has old wiring that just looks like it’s been updated and modernized . Either way, it’s a good idea to ask if all the outlets are actually working, or better yet, test them yourself with a voltmeter .

Is this considered historical?

If you’re buying an older home, it’s often a good idea to ask if it’s located in a historic district or designated as a historic building and if there are any restrictions associated with that designation. Homes that are considered historic in some way often have restrictions on the types of renovations you can do without explicit permission and may require additional costs or responsibilities.

It’s safe to assume that something like this would be disclosed before the sale, and that’s usually what happens if the house itself is officially designated as historic. But if you move into a neighborhood that’s considered historic, you may be subject to rules about how you can alter or update the home that you weren’t previously told about, just like this hapless homeowner . If your new home has old charm, it’s worth asking about it or checking with local authorities directly.

Why was the basement renovated?

If you’re touring a home that obviously hasn’t had a major renovation in a while, you might be okay, as long as the bones are sound and you have a vision (and budget) for the renovation. But if you go down to the basement and find a brand new, freshly completed renovation, it’s time to ask one question: Was there a flood? While many homeowners are renovating their home in stages , even though only the lower parts of the home have been updated, it’s time to worry about significant water damage that has been erased or hidden . If a basement has flooded once, it will likely flood again, so you need to know why it was chosen for restoration.

Is there a buried reservoir on site?

Old houses sometimes contain ancient oil tanks underground. If your home has had oil heating in the past, burying the tank can hide it from view—no one wants an ugly, rusty tank sitting in their backyard. And if the tank has been properly decommissioned—drained, filled with foam, and capped—there’s nothing to worry about (at least until you decide to dig up the yard).

But if the tank had not been written off, this could have become a huge problem. If a leak occurs, your health may be affected, and if the leak spreads and poisons your neighbors’ property, you will be held liable. And tank removal can be expensive— around $10,000 if you’re facing an environmental disaster. It’s better to ask about this before taking on such responsibility.

How are these trees doing?

Trees are stunning and bring many benefits to a property . But trees can become a real hazard if not properly cared for: they can fall and damage your home , become home to insects and rodents that invade your home, and cause conflict between you and your neighbors. Tree care can be expensive , so many homeowners choose to simply enjoy the shade and trust nature to take care of itself.

It makes sense to ask about the trees on your potential property: how often have they been pruned and trimmed? Has the arborist inspected the trees for disease, infestation or damage? If the trees are old and not properly cared for, you may be buying a lot of work and trouble instead of a beautiful, shady yard.

More…