 |
Daily Real Estate News | September 28, 2007
6 Questions Home Owners Often Forget to Ask
Most home buyers are concerned about such things as the age of the roof, the condition of the heater, and whether the plumbing operates dependably.
But they may not consider some other tough issues that could result in expensive repairs down the road or could reduce the long-term value of the property.
Here are six questions that most home buyers often don’t ask:
1. Is there an abandoned underground fuel tank? Removing and remediating any leakage can be costly, but it could become mandatory down the road, as more environmentally conscious communities require it.
2. Has there been a chemical spill nearby that has seeped into the basement? Experts say bad things that may have happened 50 years ago can leave an environmental footprint today. Information that can answer these questions is available free of charge from the Department of Environmental Conservation and federal superfund site Web sites.
3. What’s next door? Is that wooded area behind the home that buffers the backyard from a busy road actually zoned for commercial use? Talking to a zoning official can get a buyer the real scoop.
4. Where are the sewer and utility lines? Make sure the house is really attached to the sewer and that the cable line comes all the way to the house. Often neither does and running them that extra few feet can be appallingly expensive.
5. Where are the easements? If the government or a private entity has taken over a portion of the property for an easement and there is a pipe burst or gas line leak, the home owner could be held fiscally responsible for the repair.
6. How high is the water table? Has the house ever flooded? A one- in 100-year chance of a flood may not sound like much until water starts rushing in.
Source: Newsday, Stacey Altherr (09/28/07)
Browse all of today's news
| |
|
RSS Feed