https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:53:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749185 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:14:12 +0000 Ra 749185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749182 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:57:33 +0000 avivoca 749182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ask the seller to purchase a one year home warranty for you. That way, if anything breaks in the first year, you only have to pay the deductible and you have the option to renew it annually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749181 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:56:49 +0000 charliewhiskey 749181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a realtor in NC, and this is what I would ask:</p> <p>Age of the HVAC/heat?<br /> Type of plumbing and when/if it has been updated.<br /> Type of wiring and when/if it was updated.<br /> Any asbestos? And I wouldn't necessarily trust the "not that I know of" answer.<br /> Age of the roof?<br /> Any structural changes made and were they permitted?<br /> Average utility bills?<br /> Have they ever looked into central air? Any reason why they didn't install it?</p> <p>Hope this helps! Feel free to ask me anything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749179 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:55:48 +0000 strawberry 749179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask about lead paint. We moved into an older home (165 yrs) which was nicely remodeled and such...and we were young and had no clue. Our realtor mentioned nothing about this issue. The other month I tested (you can get cheap tests as home improvement stores..."if it's red, it's lead" tests). We have issues now with windows and doors (inside and outside) and have to take out a loan to get everything replaced. Also because of the age it will be much more expensive to replace everything because nothing is the standard size. Just something to think about esp. if little ones are about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749177 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:53:21 +0000 Ra 749177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: More great suggestions. Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749176 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:51:57 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 749176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your realtor can and should provide you with neighborhood info including school info, proximity to grocery stores, malls and transportation- public, airports, highways etc. These items you can resesrch on your own and find out by driving around on your own. Proximity to a gym was important to us, so my Realtor always pointed it out to us. </p> <p>I would ask about age and condition of the roof, water heater, appliances, plumbing work and installation. You never know if there are some newer repairs/ replacements or existing problems unless you ask. I would also want to know about pests or critter problems with an older home. You can ask about expenses like heat, water, electricity, and services such as lawn maintenance, but alot of it will have to do with personal preference/ usage. I would ask if there are any fixtures the seller is keeping: chandeliers comes to mind. I had one seller who was taking a built in murphy bed and another who was taking a portab look e island, but had it topped off with the same granite as the rest of the kitchen, and ano the seller who was keeping three decorative light fixtures. If they are taking anything you will need to factor in the cost of replacing the items or repairing/ patching up walls/ceilings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749175 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:51:25 +0000 Ra 749175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: Yeah, the kitchen will probably run us around $20,000. My dad owns an HVAC company so he is going to look into adding central air. Luckily, we'd only have to pay for materials and he'd do the labor. We just have to make sure it can be done because there is no existing duct work.</p> <p>On the upside, this house is $100,000 under budget, so we can afford to put a little work in it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749174 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:49:50 +0000 Ra 749174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks!</p> <p>There was no disclosure paperwork so I will have to ask about that.</p> <p>The heat source is gas/radiator heat. My father owns an HVAC company so I will be bringing him on the next walk through to look at all of that. </p> <p>Good point about asbestos and led paint! Didn't think of that.</p> <p>The floors are all original hardwood. They're gorgeous :)</p> <p>Also, good point about windows and foundation. The windows appeared to be older. </p> <p>Thank you so much for the suggestions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749173 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:47:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 749173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>P.S. I dont know where you live, but gutting kitchens and adding central air can be reallllllly pricey!!! Does it have basebord heat, or is there already ductwork? That will impact the cost of adding central AC considerably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749168 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:45:38 +0000 yoursilverlining 749168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, what information do you have already? Your realtor cam provide the tax rate /tax bill info if you don't already have that. The disclosure paperwork they typically give you at a viewing should have the year the roof was installed and any known info about it. If you didn't get disclosure paperwork, I would ask for that. I would ask about heat source (boiler age, condition, last time it was serviced, etc.) - that should also be on the disclosure paperwork.</p> <p>I'd also ask about insulation; type and amount. Since it's am older home; asbestos and lead paint. If it's carpeted, I would ask to see what's underneath (is it nice hardwood that could be refinished, or junk?). Foundation - type, repairs to, condition of, etc. Windows - age, leaks, etc. If it has a fireplace, what type and does it work? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-realtor#post-749163 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:35:34 +0000 Ra 749163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started house hunting today and ended up absolutely falling in love with first house we looked at. It is a gorgeous house in the city and appears to be the perfect compromise for what my husband and I are looking for. There are a few things we'd need to change eventually like gutting the kitchen and adding central air, but all in all it has most of what we're looking for. </p> <p>Our realtor told us the next step is to come up with a list of questions for the seller's realtor. The problem is, this will be our first house so we aren't really sure what to ask! The house is really old (113 years) so we know we want to ask about the roof. We also want to ask about the school district. Oh, and the monthly gas/electric bill. What else though? Are their any general questions we should ask? This is so exciting/scary! </p>