Your new house has to meet the needs of your lifestyle. When you visit a new property, keep your requirements in mind. Assess the neighbourhood as well as the house's internal and external state of repair. Look at other structural and physical criteria and don't feel shy about questioning why the current owners are moving!

Here's a checklist of questions you should ask:

Ask the seller

1. Why are you moving?

2. How long have you stayed here?

3. Any break-ins?

4. What are the neighbours like?

Ask the estate agent

1. What are the price trends in the area?

2. How long has the house been on the market?

3. What is the average turnaround for house sales this area? Why?

1. Is it close to work/schools/friends and family/hospital/doctor/etc?

2. Is it positioned near shopping centres/highway/sports facilities/central business district?

3. Is there a police station/fire station in the neighbourhood?

4. Is it near power lines/vacant land?

5. Are there developments scheduled in the area/is the area well established?

6. Is the area noisy?

7. What is the traffic like at peak times into and out of the area?

1. Is there adequate parking space for guests?

2. How many garages/carports?

3. Pool/outside entertainment area?

4. Established garden?

5. Is there space to extend?

Check out the inside of the house

1. Number of bedrooms/bathrooms?

2. Is the kitchen modern/fully fitted?

3. Do al the taps/lights work and do the toilets flush properly?

4. Are there odd shaped rooms or colour schemes?

5. Dining room/TV room?

6. Indoor entertainment area/games room/study?

7. Laundry room?

Check out the security

1. Is the crime rate high/is there an adequate security system installed?

2. Is the perimeter walled?

3. Number of gates/what type of fencing?

4. Burglar bars?

5. Alarm system/armed response?

6. Security booms/neighbourhood watch?

7. Street lights?

Ask about any possible problem areas

1. Damp/cracked wall or paving?

2. Leaks/drainage?

3. Lifting tiles/stains?

4. Wood rot?

5. Other?

Can you add to this list? Leave a comment below…

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