Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Lakeland Fl Home For Sale (Part 2)
In our previous article, we tackled the three types of questions that you should ask before you buy a home for sale in Lakeland Fl. These questions will help you make an informed decision based on factors that will affect you and your family’s lives as you live in your Lakeland Fl home.
Asking these questions before you buy a home will also help you avoid “buyer’s remorse,” which usually results from decisions made impulsively or based solely on emotions.
The first type of question, which we discussed in the first article, is about the price of the home.
The second type of question, is about the condition of the Lakeland Fl home for sale.
Knowing beforehand if the Lakeland Fl home for sale has structural defects or needs maintenance, you should consider these problems before deciding on your offering price.
Here are some questions you should ask about the condition of the home to guide you:
- How old is the roof? Depending on the materials, a roof usually has a life expectancy of 15-50 years.
- What is the kind of foundation of the Lakeland Fl home for sale? Newly constructed homes usually have slab foundations. A home with raised foundations or a basement allows access to the electrical and plumbing underneath.
- Does the Lakeland Fl home have insulated walls and attic? Insulation is more important in areas with colder climates. Each state would have a specific set of standards for the R factor.
- Have any of the systems or appliances been replaced and when? It would be a great advantage for you if the Lakeland Fl home for sale has updated electrical and plumbing. Take note that some older appliances cannot be repaired due to unavailability of parts of what they call “phased out” or outdated models.
The condition of the home plays a very big role on your decision on whether to buy the Lakeland Fl home for sale or not, as well as your purchase price. A home in need of major repair and maintenance will give you a chance to negotiate for a lower price or you could ask the seller to contribute a certain amount at closing to cover for repairs.
In our next article, we will talk about the third type of question you need to ask before buying a Lakeland Fl home for sale.