Questions to ask when buying property
While every property is different, generally speaking there are certain questions you can ask the Seller/Auctioneer when you are looking at a property. Below are a variety of practical questions you could ask depending on the type of property you are looking at:
Common Questions related to most types of properties:
- When was the last electrical work carried out?
- Where is the nearest school, church and shop?
- Any disputes with neighbours?
- Has the property ever been flooded?
- When is the seller/vendor moving out? Discuss dates, be open.
- Are the onward buying or will they go rent in between?
- Has the property got a fixed land line?
- What is the Broadband speed? Is it reliable?
- Are there any contents included in the sale price?
- Is the property directly accessed from the Public Road? If not is it accessed over a private laneway, if so who maintains the laneway, is there a registered right to use this laneway.
Common Questions related to townhouses:
Usually a terraced or semi detached house situated in a town or village location
- Does the property have the benefit of water and waste water services?
- If so is it registered with Irish Water? Where are the connection points, show me? Where is the stop cock/sluis valve (the valve which switches off the water from the mains in the case of emergency)? Where is the inspection chamber for the waste water
- Where is the man hole for the sewer?
- Any extensions or conversions carried out to the property? If so was planning applied for
- What is parking like in the area?
Common Questions related to rural homes:
Once off rural dwelling houses, usually detached
- When was the house built? Reason – when you are getting property insurance this will be one of the first questions asked. It also discloses whether or not the
property should have planning permission. - Was there ever planning permission applied for? This applies even if you are looking at an hold Farm House/Cottage, if there has been an extension to the
property you need to know when the extension was built. This relates to planning and building regulations and will help your Solicitor raise the right queries. - Where is the septic tank located? Ask them to show you physically where it is and also show you where the percolation area is.
- When was the septic tank/treatment plant last cleaned/emptied out Will it be cleaned out prior to closing?
- Where is the well? Again physically ask them to show you where it is. Is it a deep bore well or a shallow well? Where is the pump house for the well? Ask how many years has it been since the pump was last changed? Does the water require a treatment system? When was the water last tested or was it ever tested?
- Heating System – what type of heating is it? Gas or Oil? Where are the tanks located. When was the boiler last serviced, will it be serviced prior to closing?
- Is the property directly accessed from the Public Road? If not is it accessed over a private laneway, if so who maintains the laneway, is there a registered right to use this laneway?
- When was the last electrical work carried out?
- Where is the nearest school, church and shop?
- Any disputes with neighbours?
- Are the boundaries physically visible all the way around the property, if not ask the Vendor is he going to have the fencing erected before closing. Generally you need to see your fencing/boundaries to know what you are going to own.
- Has the property ever been flooded?
- When is the seller/vendor moving out? Discuss dates, be open and practical about it.
- Are the Sellers onward buying or will they go and rent in between?
- Are the boundaries physically visible all the way around the property, if not ask the Vendor is he going to have the fencing erected before closing. Generally you need to see your fencing/boundaries to know what you own.
Common Questions related to new development/second hand development homes:
- To what standard will the house be completed? Show me the show house?
- Will the Auctioneer provide plans, drawings and specifications? Specifications is a
document which sets out the types of material are being used in the build of the property. This specification list is important as you will need to send it to your Engineer to make sure he is happy with it., it will also set out how many electrical sockets are standard, light fitting, plumbing fittings etc. - Is there a PC sum being allowed for the Kitchen and Bathroom Ware
- When will the house be realistically completed
- How long has it taken the last phase to be completed from start to finish?
- When /or Will the development be taken in charge by the Local Authority? Taking in charge is a process whereby the Local Authority maintain the roads, footpaths and public lighting and Irish Water take in charge the Water and Waste Water Services.
- Who cuts and maintains the green areas? Is there a residence association in place which deals with the cutting of grass, keeping the development clean and tidy and if so how much is the fee each year?
- If it is a brand new house being bought – is the builder registered with the Help to Buy Scheme? Will they accept Help to Buy Scheme money as a deposit under the Contract.
Common Questions related to apartment/multi-storey buildings:
- Is there a Management Company in place who maintains and manages
the Common Areas? - Is the Seller/Vendor a member of the Management Company
- Do they ever attend meetings?
- Are there House Rules regulating the development?
- Is there a designated car parking space for the Apartment?
- What are the yearly management company fees?
- Is there any anti-social behaviour within the building?
- How often is the lift maintained, any issues with the lift?
- Any noise issues?
- Where are the fire safety records kept – you want to see that the necessary fire checks are regularly checked.
For more information on buying property, check out our Helpful Videos section.
