10 questions you absolutely must ask before buying a house

We all have questions before making a big purchase. What’s a bigger purchase than buying a house? It is a decision which will affect you and your loved ones for years to come. So one must be very careful before making a huge leap in that direction

Buying and selling a home is one of the most important choices you can make in a lifetime. Whether you are buying a million dollar mansion or getting a cheap house for sale, before venturing into the purchase it is important to ask (and ask yourself) 10 essential questions:

Who is the actual owner of the property? It is necessary to verify that the seller is the sole owner of the property and that there are no mortgages or mortgages on the house or the house is not involved in legal proceedings. Finding out why the owner wants to sell can also help with negotiations.

Is all the town planning documentation in order? It is important to make sure that all town planning documents are in order. In particular, it is necessary to verify the effective existence of the building permit, that the property is actually registered and that the cadastral plan reflects the actual situation. Furthermore, any building abuses must be excluded and if there are small remediable discrepancies, it should be the seller to deal with them.

What is the actual living area? Normally the area mentioned is the one which includes any walkways, lawn (back and front) etc. So make sure to ask for the actual living area. i.e. bedrooms, toilets and kitchen etc

What is the energy class? According to the new bee rules (energy performance certificate), the seller is obliged to provide documentation certifying the energy class of the property.

Are all codes up to standard? Make sure all health and safety codes are up to standard and have been checked and updated on regular basis

Has the seller paid all the fees due to him? Make sure the seller has cleared all the dues for his duration, before you are handed over the property. These due can vary from bills to property taxes etc.

Are extraordinary maintenance interventions planned? Extraordinary maintenance interventions (such as the refurbishment of the roof) can constitute a huge expense of money. This is why it is better to ascertain the expenses already approved (which are due to the seller) or those already planned in the future.

In addition to the cost of the property, will there be other expenses? If the purchase was made through the intermediation of an agency, the agent's commission must also be added, but also the cost of the deed by the notary and the sales taxes.

What is the amount of the deposit? The deposit is paid upon signing the preliminary purchase and may correspond to 10 or 15% of the agreed price.

How much is the mortgage payment? To support the purchase of a property, a mortgage is very often taken out; in order to be sustainable the loan installment must not exceed 30% of the monthly family income.

Now you must remember these are questions which generally come to mind, when making a house purchase. Depending on your specific scenario there must be other more important that need to be answered. So it is always imperative that you ask all the questions and clear any hesitations. Don’t be quick to make a decision, but don’t be so slow either that a good chance might slip out of your hand and lastly always consult a professional when making such a deal

Hammad Awan is author of the above blog. He is doing computer science from virtual university. He is a professional Guest Blogger and loves to write blogs on valuable topics