What Should I Ask My Real Estate Agent?

Posted by Dream Destin Realty on January 28th, 2021

Buying a new home is a huge milestone in your life and the anxiety can surely build up while you try to check everything off of the list. It is essential to keep in mind that your real estate agent is your tool in this entire process and is here to make everything easier on you. In general, there are some specific topics you will want questions answered on. After all, buying a new home means investing tons of your life savings, if not more, of which you will be paying off for thirty years to come.

To make sure you make the most of your time house shopping, start by asking all of the right questions.

Community and Neighborhood

The area in which you purchase your home in the Destin, Miramar Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach area is crucial. You will want to make sure that the neighborhood and community surrounding your home is safe, warm, welcoming, and one that will take care of you for years to come. Some questions to ask your real estate agent on this topic are:

- How long will my commute be to the nearest large city?

- How is the school district?

- How close are the nearest stores, services, and hospitals?

- Are there any nuisances I should be aware of?

- How close is the nearest highway?

The Property

Each piece of property that you have interest in will surely be different and have many things to offer, separate from each other. To assist you in comprising a list and weighing the pros and cons of each home, there are some questions you will surely want answered about the homes.

- Is the asking price on the low or high end of the house’s market value?

- How long has this home been listed for and has the price been lowered at all since it was originally listed?

- What did the home previously sell for?

- Is the home a short sale?

- Are there any features that add to the value of the home, such as a pool?

- Why is the owner of the home selling the property and how long have they lived there?

Putting Together an Offer

When you are ready to submit an offer, your gears are going to shift a little bit from shopper to buyer. You are no longer weighing the options each property has to offer, you are focused on one house and ready to move forward into the closing process. Before submitting an offer, there are a few things you will want to ask your real estate agent:

- What is the property worth?

- Is the seller flexible on their asking price and/or motivated to sell?

- How often has this home been viewed by other buyers?

- Are there seller’s disclosures on the property?

- When is the seller hoping to move?

- What are the property taxes on this home?

- What contingencies should I look into, such as appraisals and home inspections?

- Can you recommend an appraiser and home inspector?