Top 6 Questions to Ask When Purchasing Your First Home

Whether you happen to be a first-time homebuyer or a current homeowner looking at potentially downsizing, more than likely, you will excitedly be attending open houses while on the hunt for the perfect home. 

What many people don’t realize is that both buyers and sellers of the home property have rights. Both parties should be aware of these rights and procedures as it will help to understand and keep an eye on what to look for when buying a house as well as empower you to ask the right questions.

The Three Pillars of Protection

Each province has their own rules and regulations when it comes to real estate transactions. 

Just take Ontario as an example, has their own specific rules. Per the Real Estate Council of Ontario (REC), there are “Three Pillars of Protection which applies to brokers and salespeople in the real estate industry in Ontario. These three pillars are:

• Knowledge and Understanding
• Professional Standards
• Insurance

When buying a house, it is highly recommended to use the services of a realtor. You want to look for a reputable one and will abide by all three pillars of protection and most importantly – an agent that will look after your best interests. 

The 6 Questions to Ask When Buying a House in Canada

There will undoubtedly be more than ten questions that you would like answers to related to buying a home, but there are some key questions that will take precedence when making this big decision.

You will want to frame your questions carefully and base them on observations on things that are not clear. This is so you can ask those very specific questions so you can get the clearest of answers. 

For example, a question you could ask when looking at a pre-owned home is, “when was the last time the roof was replaced?” or, “has the roof ever been replaced?” Both the same fundamental question, but how you ask the question may provide you with two different answers. 

The below set of questions are foundational when looking to purchase your forever home:

1. Has There Ever Been or Are There Any Problems with Pests in The Home?

This is an essential question because it is not something you are likely going to determine on a visual inspection. But pests include those such as termites, cockroaches, carpenter ants, and even mice or raccoons.

2. Is the Homeowner Aware of Any Potentially Dangerous Substances in the Home?

Dangerous substances may or may not include asbestos, mold, and even radon or lead paint. 

3. Has the Homeowner Had to Deal with Any Plumbing Issues?

You will want to know if there has been an ongoing issue with the plumbing system in the house so you can get ahead of what may be a potential situation for you. 

4. Has the Homeowner Had to Deal with Any Electrical Problems?

Similar to the plumbing question, you will want to know if there have been any wiring issues or whether there have been any upgrades to the electrical system, no matter how minor. You will also want to ask whether a qualified electrician did the maintenance.

5. How Old are the Appliances?

Quite often, a home is sold with appliances. The home buyer should know how old the appliances are (if in a previously owned home) and if they have ever been repaired or replaced. It may also be worth it to ask whether there is a warranty on the appliances. 

6. Have There Been Any Additions or Major Renovations Done on The Home By The Current Homeowner?

This question is important to note, especially in older homes as the buyer should know what they’re getting into. As a potential home buyer, you would want to know who did the upgrades and if there are any existing warranties. 

What Should I Know Before I Buy a House?

Yes, buying a home is exciting, but it’s important to be knowledgeable about what all buying a home entail. It can be easy to forget about a lot of the questions as you view the home, so we recommend bringing a checklist along to be used as a resource during the home viewing and afterward before deciding on whether this is the home for you or not.